In a thrilling set of games that kept basketball fans on the edge of their seats, France emerged victorious over Japan, while Canada scored a significant win against Australia, and Spain edged past Greece.
France vs. Japan: Overtime Drama
France clinched a hard-fought victory against Japan with a 94-90 win in overtime. The standout performance came from the prodigious talent Victor Wembanyama, who scored all of France's points in the initial four-and-a-half minutes of overtime. Wembanyama's stellar effort under pressure was crucial as he also contributed a total of 18 points for the game.
Another pivotal moment came from Matthew Strazel, who forced the game into overtime with a dramatic four-point play with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation. This set the stage for the nail-biting overtime, where France eventually pulled ahead.
On the Japanese side, Yuki Karamura was the leading scorer with an impressive 29 points. Rui Hachimura, who was a significant offensive threat with 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting in 28 minutes, was ejected with eight-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, a turning point that unquestionably impacted Japan’s chances.
Canada's Triumph Over Australia
Canada secured an important win against Australia, prevailing with a 93-83 scoreline. RJ Barrett led the charge for Canada, scoring 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting in 25 minutes. Barrett also stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
“He's that guy,” said Canada’s coach, Jordi Fernandez, about Barrett. “Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores.” This quote from Fernandez underlines Barrett's remarkable ability to find scoring opportunities independently, a critical asset for his team.
Australia struggled to maintain possession, committing a staggering nine out of their total 18 turnovers in the third quarter alone. Despite this, some individual performances stood out: Josh Giddey scored 15 points by halftime, and Jock Landale delivered a double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. However, Patty Mills had a tough night, managing only eight points on 2-for-10 shooting, which further highlighted Australia’s offensive woes.
Spain Holds Off Greece
Spain managed to fend off a resilient Greek team with an 84-77 victory. Santi Aldama was instrumental for Spain, tallying 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Lorenzo Brown also contributed significantly with 10 assists and seven points, orchestrating the team’s offense efficiently.
Greece demonstrated remarkable resilience, rallying after trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half. Giannis Antetokounmpo, often pivotal to Greece’s efforts, scored 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting, coupled with 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Despite his heroics, Greece couldn’t quite overcome the deficit.
Spain's coach, Sergio Scariolo, shared insights into their late-game strategy: “We thought we’d keep it for the very end of the game.” This tactic evidently paid off as Spain managed to hold off Greece's comeback efforts.
Meanwhile, Spain guard Dario Brizuela acknowledged Giannis' impact on the game. “He's our best player, and he knows it,” said Brizuela, capturing the essence of Antetokounmpo's undeniable influence on the court.
As the tournament progresses, these matchups underscore the unpredictable and highly competitive nature of international basketball, promising further excitement and drama in the games to come.