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Anything can happen in sports, but Canada basically booked a trip to the 2027 FIBA World Cup with a stirring comeback victory over Argentina on Monday night.

Playing in front of an energetic crowd in Quebec City, Canada, ranked fifth in the world but missing most of its best players, took down No. 8 Argentina 97-92, rallying from a 17-point early deficit.

The win moved the senior men to a perfect 8-0 in Americas qualifiers, all but guaranteeing a trip to Qatar next year. It would take a truly improbable run in the final two qualifying windows (four Canadian losses and a combination of results from other countries) for that not to occur. Had Panama beaten Bahamas on Monday Canada would have officially been in. They’ll get there soon enough, completing the first step of the journey under new head coach Gordie Herbert.

Lu Dort, playing in his home province, scored 25 points and added two steals, including sparking a significant stretch of the game in the third quarter when Canada rallied. Dort, recently traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks, teamed nicely with his new teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the NBA’s reigning most improved player. Alexander-Walker scored 26, taking over in the late moments. The team’s other NBAer, Kelly Olynyk (who is aiming to sign a new contract to play his 14th year in the league) also had a strong game, as did centre Mfiondu Kabengele, the nephew of the late legend Dikembe Mutombo, who was outstanding. Toronto native Marcus Carr also excelled, collecting 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

“I thought we weathered the storm,” Herbert told media. “We had a really tough period there in the first half, but the players did a good job of staying with it. We got behind the eight ball, so to speak.

“We came in at halftime, regrouped and had a great second half. Give the players all the credit. In a FIBA game, you’re not always going to play a great 40 minutes. There were times when we struggled in the first half on both ends of the floor, but I thought we played much better basketball in the second half,” Herbert said.

DORT HAS HIMSELF A GAME

Dort, of Montreal, was excited to play close to home.

“Every time I’m out there, I try my best to play my role and find the best shot,” Dort told media. “With the guys we had out there, everyone was ready to play. We moved the ball well, played together and found the best shot.”

Fellow Quebecker Bennedict Mathurin watched his teammates from the stands, as did RJ Barrett.

Canada’s general manager Rowan Barrett had likened qualifying to a “relay race” with Canadians coming in and out of the lineup at various times throughout the process for a number of reasons.

“It’s almost like a relay race, right? One guy’s got to carry the baton. To the next guy, get it to the next guy to get it around the track, and it’s a little bit what this structure forces you to do,” Barrett had said.

They’ve done just that.

Canada finished third at the previous World Cup, beating the Americans and Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, as well as mighty Spain along the way.

The last two qualifying windows for 2027 will be in early November and late February.