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CANADA tonight pulled off a third quarter ambush that led to a 93-83 win over the Boomers, the FIBA World Cup bronze medallists efficiently paced by Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett's game-high 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, leaving Australia needing now to beat Greece in its final intrapool match. 

The quarter-finals of these Paris Olympics still loom largely for the Boomers despite their demise tonight, Canada shutting down Patty Mills (8 points, 2-of-10 shooting, 4 turnovers) and forcing a string of turnovers to start the second half which sabotaged Australia's fine opening quarters.

Leading by four at the main interval, Australia saw its buffer erased in a 7-2 opening in which Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (16 points on 8-of-10) were prominent, as were the Boomers' sudden raft of turnovers.

Australia burped up the ball 18 times but it was the glut to start the third period which set Canada on its way to a 27-21 quarter that was much uglier until Dante Exum roared the Boomers back to life.

Inside the last four minutes of the third, Barrett bumped Canada's lead to 10 at 66-56 before Exum (15 points on 6-of-9 shooting) sparked the revival.

First he fed Jock Landale - who was huge again with 16 points at 70 per cent, 12 rebounds and four assists - for a big dunk.

Then Exum took it to the hoop for 60-66. A defensive stop later and Nick Kay scored or was given the points after basket interference, mostly by Landale but (fortunately) also by a wayward Canadian hand. 

At 62-66, Barrett pulled Canada back to a six-point lead, Exum again for 64-68, Barrett again for 70-64.

Jack McVeigh (9 points off 3-of-5 threes) brought Australia within a possession and with a quarter left, Canada's lead was grafted back to 72-70 on another McVeigh triple.

Some Landale muscle kept the Boomers within a basket at 72-74 but, as was the case through much of the quarter, the Aussies were unable to make open shots.

Josh Green was a culprit but so too Kay, Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey, Canada steadily pulling clear. A Barrett three had the lead back out to 81-72 and despite some copybook, exemplary defence on Jamal Murray by Mills, the Canadian still stuck his shot.

A 3-pointer by Exum and a three-point play by Landale provided some hope, the margin now growing as a potential factor later when intrapool play concludes.

Giddey finished with 19 points at 50 per cent, plus seven rebounds and six assists but was not as effective after Canada made its halftime adjustments.

He took 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, with two 3-pointers, into the halftime interval and was outstanding, his decision-making on par with his audacity going to the hoop and skill in completing plays.

Dyson Daniels was another who produced his share of deft and super-skillful moves and Exum's impact was enormous and immediate, his six points to the main interval on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting.

Duop Reath hit the floor in the second quarter, clearly anxious to do well and Daniels quickly rewarded him with a gift for an easy two.

The lead see-sawed with Australia enjoying its biggest edge at 19-13 on a Mills runner and ahead 28-26 at the first break.

A confident Giddey step-back three pushed the Boomers out to 31-26 before a 7-0 Canadian run forced a timeout.

McVeigh's triple made it a 47-43 buffer which Giddey ensured stayed the lead with a floater into halftime giving Australia a 49-45 edge, some of the defensive work by Daniels suggesting the Boomers will not go quietly out of this tournament.

CANADA 93 (Barrett 24, Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks 16, Dort 11; Powell 9 rebs; Barrett, Murray 5 assts) d AUSTRALIA BOOMERS 83 (Giddey 19, Landale 16, Exum 15, Daniels 10; Landale 12 rebs; Giddey 6 assts) in Lille.

MEN'S RESULTS

Group A: Australia 92 d Spain 80, Canada 86 d Greece 79; Spain 84 d Greece 77, Canada 93 d Australia 83. Canada 2-0 (+17), Australia 1-1 (+2), Spain 1-1 (-5), Greece 0-2 (-14).

Group B: Germany 97 d Japan 77, France 78 d Brazil 66;

Group C: South Sudan 90 d Puerto Rico 79, USA 110 d Serbia 84;

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Group A: Spain 90 d China 89, Serbia 58 d Puerto Rico 55;

Group B: Nigeria 75 d Australia 62, France 75 d Canada 54;

Group C: Germany 83 d Belgium 69, USA 102 d Japan 76;