Unbeaten Canada is one win away from a return to the FIBA World Cup

Those experiences in those qualifying games, nine or 10 without a single NBA player over three qualification processes since 2017, allowed Canada to handle a horrible start and a deep, deep hole before pulling away to beat Argentina 97-92 in a key FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Yes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 26 points in a lead guard role, drilling a clutch three-pointer and two foul shots to give Canada an important cushion in the final minute. And yes, Lu Dort exploded for 10 points in the third quarter and finished with 25 to lead Canada, and they were instrumental.

But the secondary veterans, the non-NBAers so vital to the organization’s overall success, maintained their composure and didn’t allow a 17-point second-quarter deficit rattle them as Canada moved to 8-0 in qualifying and a giant step closer to making it to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. One win in the final four games — at Argentina and Uruguay in November, against Uruguay and Panama at a Canadian site to be determined in February — gets Canada in.

“It’s a little bit like horseshoes: We’re close, but we’re not there,” Canadian coach Gordie Herbert said.

Guys such as Mfiondu Kabengele, Trae Bell-Haynes, Marcus Carr, Khem Birch and a handful of other lesser-known Canadians played important roles in the victory before a crowd announced at more than 12,000 in Quebec City’s Videotron Centre.

Kabengele had an emphatic blocked shot with less than a minute left that sealed the win and finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“I played with (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) for so many years, so I’m used to playing with him on the court. But with the guys that we had out there, everybody was ready to play,” Dort said. “We moved the ball well, we played together and we just found the best shot.”

Canada had just three NBA veterans in the lineup in Dort, Alexander-Walker and Kelly Olynyk. Key players from two qualifying games in July took this window off for a variety of reasons, ranging from injuries to ramping up for NBA training camps later this month to contractual concerns.

But even without the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Andrew Nembhard, the Canadians have been rolling through qualification for the 2027 World Cup, just as they did before the 2023 and 2019 global championships.

With 28 players appearing in at least one of the first eight games, Canada is the lone unbeaten team and heading into Monday had the most potent offence and the second-best defence behind only Brazil among the 12 countries still in contention.

And it’s been much the same since 2017. With NBAers unavailable for many of the windows that conflict with their season, Canada went 10-2 in qualifying for the 2019 World Cup and 11-1 leading up to a bronze medal at the 2023 tournament.

But it’s not as if Argentina was anchored by a collection of stars. There are no Argentines in the NBA, let alone on the World Cup qualifying squad, but a group of veterans from European leagues and FIBA competitions was more than good enough to challenge Canada.

Nicolas Laprovittola, a 36-year-old guard who’s played with the national team for more than a decade, had 31 points to lead Argentina.