Jaren Jackson Jr., USA struggle in World Cup; Dillon Brooks gets best of Santi Aldama, Spain
Dillon Brooks and Santi Aldama both made clutch shots down the stretch of a close game. Jaren Jackson Jr. was tasked with guarding former Memphis Grizzlies teammate Jonas Valanciunas.
FIBA World Cup action on Sunday morning had a heavy flavor of current and former Grizzlies.
Jackson was the lone player of the four who struggled to produce for most of his game. In the end, the former Grizzlies got the better of the current ones.
Brooks scored 22 points to help lead Canada in a thrilling 88-85 win against Aldama and Spain in Jakarta, Indonesia. Valanciunas finished with 12 points in Lithuania's surprising 110-104 victory over USA in Manila, Philippines.
Spain and Aldama are now eliminated from the World Cup, meaning that their will be new champions this year. USA remains alive since Sunday was its first loss and is in the quarterfinals.
Canada will play Slovenia in Manila on Wednesday (7:30 a.m., ESPN+). USA will return to action Tuesday (7:30 a.m., ESPN2) against Italy, also in Manila.
Here are some observations from Sunday's games:
Santi Aldama goes out with a bang
It was only one game ago when Aldama was benched in the second half of Spain's loss. The Grizzlies forward responded on Sunday with his best game of the tournament. He finished with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including four made 3-pointers.
Aldama was often guarded by Brooks in a battle of former teammates. Both players won their battles, but Aldama's offensive output almost helped Spain stay alive. When Spain was down four in the final minute, Aldama made a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left to keep his country alive. After two made Canada free throws, a Spain 3-pointer bounced off the rim.
Aldama's performance was encouraging as he's expected to step into a larger role for the Grizzlies.
Dillon Brooks steals the show
Brooks wasn't going to let his former teammate have the upper hand. He put together his best performance of the tournament.
Brooks made three 3-pointers, including one with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter that tied the game after Canada trailed by double digits. The former Grizzlies wing stood out defensively with his ability to help and guard bigger matchups. Canada was able to play small while Brooks guarded bigger players like Aldama and Juancho Hernangomez.
REPLACING VETS: Tyus Jones and Dillon Brooks are gone. Here is what the Memphis Grizzlies are losing
Jaren Jackson Jr. struggles against Lithuania
Jackson ended Sunday's game with more fouls (five) than points and rebounds combined. He had three points and one rebound in 15 minutes. The one made 3-pointer came after Jackson's best moment on Sunday. He took a charge against Valanciunas in the third quarter and made a 3-pointer that got USA as close as it had been since early in the first.
Outside of that moment, Valanciunas won the matchup against Jackson and kept him in foul trouble enough to not be in the flow of the game.
Lithuania was physical, and if USA wants Jackson to play center, he'll have to match that going forward.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Jaren Jackson Jr., US lose to Lithuania; Dillion Brooks, Canada advance
