Boomers vs Canada LIVE: Australia set for big inclusion; key to shutting down NBA superstar

The Boomers will look to take another step towards the quarter-finals in Paris when they face Canada in their biggest test yet at the Olympics on Tuesday night.

Australia made a strong start to its Olympic campaign with a 92-80 win over Spain last week.

It was an important victory considering the top two teams from each group make it through to the next round, while only the two best third-placed sides progress to the quarter-finals.

The win also came without injured guard Dante Exum, who is tracking towards returning from a dislocated finger to play against Canada.

TALKING POINTS: All the biggest lessons learned from Boomers’ win over Spain

Exum’s length and versatility would make him a welcome addition against a Canada team that matches up well against the Boomers, headlined by Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Championship-winning guard Jamal Murray, who missed last year’s FIBA World Cup, will also be in action for Canada, although he started off the bench in their win over Greece and has not looked quite right since battling a minor injury in the NBA Playoffs.

It did little to stop Canada from claiming a 86-79 win, with RJ Barrett leading the way on 23 points.

But it is Gilgeous-Alexander (21 points) who is the head of the snake and Boomers great Andrew Bogut believes one of the team’s breakout stars can go a long way to trying to limit the star guard’s effectiveness.

“The most important player is going to be Dyson Daniels because he’s going to get SGA,” he said on NBL Media’s The Gold Standard podcast.

“If he slows down SGA — they do like to have SGA bring the ball up — so just wear him down, turn him in the backcourt, try to get his legs for later on in the game.

“I hope Dyson Daniels starts on him.”

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