NBA great Charles Barkley was hoping to celebrate his birthday on Thursday with a victory for Team USA in the\u00a04 Nations Face-Off<\/u><\/a> final. Instead, Canada defeated the Americans in a thrilling overtime victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, it was Barkley who might have had the last laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n Charles Barkley smiles after the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 12, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.<\/span> (Joe Murphy\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n During Thursday\u2019s broadcast of “Inside the NBA” on TNT,\u00a0Barkley congratulated<\/u><\/a> the Canadians on their victory.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “Congratulations to Canada \u2013 I\u2019m sorry we got the tariffs on you,” he quipped before adding, “It was a great hockey game.”<\/p>\n The remark prompted Barkley\u2019s co-hosts to laugh in amusement, but the Hall of Famer was not done.\u00a0<\/p>\n “They were playing harder because of the tariffs, and they didn\u2019t want to be the 51st state. That\u2019s motivation.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Canada players celebrate after a goal by Nathan MacKinnon during the first period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game against the United States on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 in Boston.<\/span> (AP Photo\/Charles Krupa)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n JUSTIN TRUDEAU SENDS FIERY MESSAGE TO US AFTER CANADA’S 4 NATIONS WIN<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s final came amid heightened political tensions between the two nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/u><\/a> teased Canadian lawmakers about the country becoming its “51st state.” He also openly called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the “governor” of Canada and threatened a series of tariffs.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The intensity led to Canadian fans booing the American national anthem before two games in the tournament \u2013 something several Team USA players took personally.\u00a0<\/p>\n Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk, #19, celebrates with Team USA forward Auston Matthews, #34, his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre.<\/span> (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Canadian star Connor McDavid scored in overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory and ultimate bragging rights, which Trudeau wasted no time in taking part in.\u00a0<\/p>\n “You can\u2019t take our country \u2014 and you can\u2019t take our game,” he said in a post on X after the game.<\/p>\n Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s<\/strong><\/i> sports coverage on X<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a>, and subscribe to<\/strong><\/i> the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a>.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n <\/div>\n![\"Canada](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1200\/675\/de10f91f-canada-fans.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1200\/675\/matthew-tkachuk.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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