Mathias Lessort (26), of France and Victor Wembanyama (32), of France celebrate after beating Germany during a men’s semifinals basketball game at Bercy Arena at the Paris Olympics 2024, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Host France fought off a late comeback from Germany to win 73-69 on Thursday and reach the final of the Paris Olympic men’s basketball.
Guerschon Yabusele led Tokyo silver medallists France with 17 points and Isaia Cordinier added 16. Victor Wembanyama finished with 11 points despite another poor shooting performance.
France will meet Team USA on Saturday in a repeat of the final from three years ago after the heavily favored Americans got past Nikola Jokic’s Serbia in the second semifinal.
SCHEDULE: Men’s basketball final at Paris Olympics 2024
Germany was one of two remaining unbeaten teams but France set the record straight in Paris’ Bercy Arena after its 85-71 loss to the same opponents in the group stage in Lille.
“The players were just remembering how they were laughing last game, how easy it looked for them,” said Wembanyama.
“I’m sure losing that game in the group phase helped us win today, definitely.”
READ: Victor Wembanyama ‘can’t wait’ for France-USA showdown at Paris Olympics
Dennis Schroder led 2023 World Cup winners Germany with 18 points. Fritz Wagner was the only other player in double figures for a team that will seek the consolation of a first-ever Olympic medal in the third-place playoff.
“They were better than us today,” said Schroder. “At the end of the day we wanted to get a medal here and that’s still open.”
Germany, just as it did in the previous clash, moved into an early lead with Schroder and Wagner quickly finding their touch.
The Germans moved 28-18 in front after a three from Nick Weiler-Babb to open the second quarter, but France flipped the momentum its way as Wembanyama made his mark.
Wembanyama gets crowd going
Victor Wembanyama (32), of France celebrates after a men’s semifinals basketball game win against Germany at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
He opened his account with a shot off the glass and then stonewalled Germany center Daniel Theis, energizing the packed crowd and raising the decibel levels further with a three-point play.
France ended the half with a flourish and Wembanyama’s dunk tied the game at 33 apiece.
Nicolas Batum nailed a three-pointer to put France ahead for the first time to begin the second half, with Yabusele getting into the act as well.
Yabusele, top scorer with 22 points in the quarter-final victory over Canada, carried his team with a series of baskets, but Schroder replied in equal measure.
With the lead switching back and forth in a gripping third quarter, France surged six points clear when Evan Fournier rattled in a shot from beyond the arc.
France went into the final period leading 56-50 and looked to have left Germany in the rear view mirror thanks to a three from Wembanyama followed by a bucket from Mathias Lessort.
Another Wembanyama block on Schroder resulted in Frank Ntilikina knocking down a three in transition to put France 13 points in front.
Germany refused to roll over and France struggled to make the game safe, Wagner netting a long three to slash the deficit to two with just under 40 seconds to play.
Wagner crucially lost his balance though after hauling down a rebound in a one-possession game.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Wembanyama missed the chance to ice the game by hitting only one free throw, but Cordinier was less forgiving from the foul line as France sealed a return to the final to the delight of the home crowd.
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.