In what turned out to be a thrilling night of international basketball, France edged Japan in an overtime thriller, while Canada and Spain secured decisive victories over Australia and Greece respectively.
France 94, Japan 90 (OT)
France clinched a dramatic 94-90 overtime victory against Japan, thanks to a stellar performance from Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama was unstoppable in the initial four-and-a-half minutes of overtime, scoring all of his team's points during that stretch and finishing the game with a total of 18 points. The major turning point came when Matthew Strazel forced the game into overtime with an incredible four-point play, leaving just 10 seconds on the clock in regulation.
Japan's efforts were spearheaded by Yuki Karamura, who put up a valiant 29 points. Rui Hachimura also had a significant impact, pouring in 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting within 28 minutes before his controversial ejection with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite the unexpected setback, Japan fought hard, but Wembanyama's overtime heroics proved to be too much to overcome.
Canada 93, Australia 83
Canada triumphed over Australia with a score of 93-83, guided by a domineering performance from RJ Barrett. Barrett led the charge with 24 points, efficiently shooting 8-for-15 in just 25 minutes. Canada's coach Jordi Fernandez couldn't hide his admiration, stating, “He's that guy. Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores.”
In addition to his scoring, Barrett was a force on the glass and in playmaking, tallying seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Australia's spiraling woes were starkly evident in the third quarter when they committed half of their total 18 turnovers, thereby fueling Canada’s momentum. Despite an early surge from Josh Giddey, who notched up 15 points by halftime, and a noteworthy effort from Jock Landale who recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, Australia couldn't sustain their offensive flow. Veteran Patty Mills had a night to forget, managing only eight points on a dismal 2-for-10 shooting performance.
Spain 84, Greece 77
Spain held off a resilient Greece to secure an 84-77 victory. Santi Aldama was the standout performer for Spain, contributing a commendable 19 points and 12 rebounds. Lorenzo Brown orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 10 assists along with seven points of his own.
Greece faced an uphill battle throughout the game, trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half. However, they rallied passionately to cut the deficit, largely due to the relentless effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis was nothing short of spectacular, scoring 27 points on an efficient 12-for-17 shooting, along with securing 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Despite the impressive comeback, Spain's defense, painstakingly planned and executed under Sergio Scariolo’s guidance, kept Greece at bay. As Scariolo remarked on their strategy, “We thought we’d keep it for the very end of the game.”
Spain's Dario Brizuela acknowledged the immense challenge posed by Giannis, remarking, “He's our best player, and he knows it.”
Overall, the night was a showcase of extraordinary talent and competitive spirit, with each game delivering its own narrative of resilience, strategic brilliance, and individual heroics. From Wembanyama's overtime dominance to Barrett's all-around excellence, and Giannis’ valiant but insuffient rally, fans were treated to a memorable display of international basketball at its finest.