Carleton leads Canada past Mali

Bridget Carleton poured in 27 points to lead Canada's women's basketball team to an 88-65 over Mali at the FIBA World Cup on Tuesday in Sydney, Australia,

The victory guaranteed a crucial top-two finish in Group B for the Canadians, who will avoid both the United States (5-0) and China (4-1) in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Instead, Canada (4-1) will meet Puerto Rico (2-3) on Thursday.

Kayla Alexander had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the No. 4 Canadians (4-1), in their final game of the preliminary round. Kia Nurse and Aislinn Konig added 11 points apiece.

In other games Tuesday, the U.S. routed Bosnia and Herzegovina 121-59, China beat Belgium 81-55, Serbia edged France 68-62 and Australia defeated Japan 71-54.

The U.S. and Australia finished No. 1 in the two pools. China and Canada were the No. 2 seeds. Belgium and Serbia were the three seeds, while France and Puerto Rico were fourth.

Canada has a pair of women's World Cup bronze medals, in 1979 and 1986.

The past few explosive weeks in the NBA have seen Phoenix owner Robert Sarver and Boston coach Ime Udoka suspended. Minnesota's Anthony Edwards was reprimanded for homophobic comments. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were at the centre of a chaotic Brooklyn off-season.

As NBA training camps tipped off Tuesday, Raptors president Masai Ujiri was asked if a league that prides itself on social awareness is slipping.

“I think we all have to revisit our cultures and the way our organizations are run and how we work,” Ujiri said.

Sarver was suspended one year and fined US$10 million by the NBA for workplace misconduct.

Udoka was suspended for the season after a monthslong investigation found multiple violations of team policies.