France Triumphs Over Japan in Overtime Thriller at Olympic Men's Basketball

 

France Triumphs Over Japan in Overtime Thriller at Olympic Men's Basketball

LILLE, FRANCE –In a gripping contest at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, France eked out a 94-90 victory over Japan in their men's Group B Olympic basketball clash, showcasing resilience and tenacity. Japan, embodying their motto to shock the world, pushed Les Bleus to their limits in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

 The teams battled fiercely for nearly the entire four quarters. Japan led until the final moments when French point guard Matthew Strazel netted four crucial points, tying the game at 84-84 with just ten seconds remaining and forcing the game into overtime.

 "Shout-out to Matthew, he saved us, we owe him one today,” said shooting guard Isaia Cordinier, reflecting the team’s gratitude for Strazel’s heroics.

 With this victory, France, boasting two wins, leads Group B with four points ahead of their upcoming showdown with second-placed Germany on Friday. Currently, in third, Japan still has a chance to advance if they can defeat Brazil by a significant margin. The top eight teams from the combined ranking will qualify for the quarterfinals.

 Power forward Victor Wembanyama was pivotal during overtime, contributing five points, including a critical 3-pointer, to solidify France’s lead as the clock wound down.

 "They were playing like underdogs, and we were waiting for them to punch too much. I wanted to make a point and punch first in overtime, and I think it worked," Wembanyama said.

 Despite Japan's defeat, point guard Yuki Kawamura stood out, scoring 29 points — the highest of any player in the game and surpassing Wembanyama’s 18.

 "But we lost the game," Kawamura lamented. "I have to control everything, but I couldn't do it — I have to get better."

 Japan's valiant performance was even more impressive given the setbacks they faced. Forward Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers was ejected for unsportsmanlike fouls, and center Josh Hawkinson left the court with an apparent left ankle injury during overtime.

 "There are no moral victories... but we showed that even in an extremely rogue environment, with 27,000 people all chanting in French and going crazy, we can fight with some of the best countries in the world. I'm proud of the guys and the way they fought 'til the end," Hawkinson said, embodying the spirit of perseverance.