The knockout stage of the international basketball tournament is nearly set, with powerhouse nations Germany, France, and Canada booking their spots. In the upcoming play, Team USA aims to join the elite group by securing a win over South Sudan on Wednesday. The top two teams from each group advance automatically, along with the two best third-place finishers.
Germany Leads the Pack
Germany cemented their place in the quarterfinals with an impressive 86-73 victory over Brazil. Dennis Schroder played a pivotal role in the win, scoring 20 points and adding six assists. His leadership and on-court performance were instrumental in Germany's dominance throughout the match.
France also delivered a thrilling performance with an overtime win against Japan. Nicolas Batum acknowledged the hard-fought nature of the game, saying, "We could've easily given up down four with 10 seconds. We had no solution, and we got a crazy shot from Matthew." The shot he referred to was a four-point play by Matthew Strazel that forced overtime with just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Wembanyama Shines in Overtime
Victor Wembanyama showcased his clutch abilities by scoring eight of his 18 points during the overtime period. France’s ability to hang tough under pressure was evident, with Batum adding, "Sometimes, God is on your side." Yuki Kawamura tallied a game-high 29 points for Japan, while Rui Hachimura added 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting before his ejection.
Canada’s Consistency Pays Off
Meanwhile, Canada continues to impress, securing a 93-83 victory over Australia. RJ Barrett led the way with 24 points on an 8-for-15 shooting performance, which he delivered in just 25 minutes. Australia, despite the loss, remains in second place in Group A, staying competitive as they look forward to upcoming challenges.
Spain also recorded a solid win against Greece, downing them 84-77. Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo did his best to keep his team in the game, amassing 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome a poised Spanish squad.
A Glimpse into the Teams
Reflecting on the narrow escape, Josh Hawkinson of Japan mentioned, "We can fight with any team... To be able to fight until the very end against one of the top teams in the world, that's definitely steps in the right direction for us. No moral victories. We wanted to win."
In a similar tone of resilience, Jordi Fernandez spoke highly of his key player, expressing, "He's that guy. Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores. That's what he does. Probably, I should be better and call more plays for him, but he finds a way."
Concluding Thoughts
The tournament now intensifies as teams prepare for the knockout stage. Brian Goorjian highlighted his approach against a formidable team, stating, "The concern coming into the game was their pressure and how we handle their pressure. Even though we had depth in those spots, they wore us down physically, and we really had trouble getting into anything in the second half."
Dario Brizuela, exuding confidence in his team’s top performer, stated, "He’s our best player, and he knows it. He played an amazing game, and we’re happy for him." Meanwhile, Spain’s head coach Sergio Scariolo described a strategic move: "We thought we'd keep it for the very end of the game... Actually, with Luis Gil, our defensive coordinator, we've been talking a lot about doing it at some point, but we decided to keep it for the very end, because I wanted to keep Willy on the floor, his pick-and-roll with Lorenzo [Brown] is a big weapon for us."
As the teams brace themselves for the next stage, the combination of tactical prowess, star performances, and resilience will undoubtedly make for riveting basketball action in the days to come.