France advances to men’s basketball gold medal game

The host country France is heading back to the Olympics men’s basketball gold medal game after narrowly defeating Germany in their semi-final battle, 73-69.

Germany started out strong to take a 10-point lead in the first canto of play but France tied the game heading to halftime. Les Bleus built a 13-point lead of its own with less than seven minutes in the fourth and final period. Germany cut the deficit into two in the final minute but France held on to the lead until the final buzzer.

Guerschon Yabusele led France with 17 points. Victor Wembanyama had 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting, while Rudy Gobert went scoreless in just five minutes of action.

Dennis Schröder scored a game-high 18 points for Germany and Franz Wagner chipped in with 10.

France now awaits the winner of the USA-Serbia match-up to know whom they will face in the finals of the tournament.

In France men’s basketball Olympic history, they have three silver medals in their bags - all three coming at the hands of Team USA and the latest was in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This is the French’s 4th gold medal match appearance in Olympic basketball.

This year's gold medal game will be held at 3:30 a.m on August 11, Sunday (PH time).

Meanwhile, Germany will be battling for their first Olympic men’s basketball medal against the loser of the USA-Serbia match-up for the bronze medal at 5:00 p.m on August 10, Saturday (PH time).

France 73 - Yabusele 17, Cordinier 16, Wenbanyama 11, Lessort 10, Batum 9, Fournier 5, Ntilikina 5, Gobert 0, Strazel 0, de Colo 0, Albicy 0, Coulibaly DNP.

Germany 69 - Schröder 18, F. Wagner 10, Theis 8, Obst 8, Bonga 7, Voigtmann 6, Weiler-Babb 5, M. Wagner 4, Thiemann 3, Giffey 0, da Silva DNP, Lo DNP.

Quarters: 18-25; 33-33; 56-50; 73-69.