France picked up win no. 2 in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball, but it didn’t come cheap.
Victor Wembanyama needed to assert his size and might as the Le Bleus overcame a late scare from Akatsuki Japan to win 94-90 in overtime on Wednesday, July 31 (Philippine time).
Wembanyama scored all but two of France’s 10 points in the extra period, the last of which gave the team a 92-84 lead with two minutes and 25 seconds to go.
The San Antonio Spurs star wound up with 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks
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On the ropes, Yuki Kawamura and Makoto Hiejima tried to will Japan back to life, uncorking back-to-back treys to stage one last comeback attempt, 90-92, with 8.1 ticks to go.
Matthew Strazel then put away Japan for good with a pair of free throws to send the French crowd at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in a frenzy.
While Wembanyama played the hero role in the final five minutes, Strazel was actually the reason there was an overtime period to begin with.
With 10.2 seconds left in regulation and France behind 80-84, Strazel swished a tough triple from the left elbow that came with a foul from Kawamura.
Strazel, who finished with 17 points on four treys, made the pressure-packed bonus free throw for the much-needed reprieve.
That’s when the 20-year-old Wemby took charge.
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Evan Fournier was also big for France with 14 points, three rebounds, and six assists, while Guerschon Yabusele chimed in 13 points.
Rudy Gobert had 15 rebounds to go with seven points, three assists, a steal, and two swats for France.
Meanwhile, the spitfire Kawamura almost completed the biggest game of his life after he willed Japan from four-points down in the fourth period to the brink of a breakthrough win in these Olympics.
His fourth quarter brilliance began with a four-point play with 5:45 left in regulation he followed up with six more points that gave Japan its four-point lead late.
Everything fell apart for the Akatsuki after that though, thanks to the fateful play involving him and Strazel.
Nevertheless, Kawamura fired 29 points on six three-pointers for Japan, to go along with seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal.
Before heading to the locker room with still 8:31 left in the fourth period, Rui Hachimura tallied 24 points for the Akatsuki. He was ejected after an unsportsmanlike foul on Gobert, which was his second of the game. Naturalized player Josh Hawkinson added 16 points and eight rebounds.
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