Change in the five of the Blues since, for his 100th selection, Andrew Albicy is preferred to Matthew Strazel. While we expected the French team to insist directly in the racket, Victor Wembanyama chains long-distance baskets and scores 8 points in a few minutes, to give the tricolors the advantage.
In his wake, Evan Fournier and Guerschon Yabusele follow, as does Isaïa Cordinier. The former already has five assists, just one short of his career record with the Blues, after a quarter.
The problem is that Japan also shoots from afar, and the gap is therefore limited (32-25).
A size advantage misused
The gap will even melt, while the Blues rush on the Japanese outside shooters… forgetting to lock the rebound. Vincent Collet gets annoyed on his bench facing these ammunition offered to the opponent, while the referees spend a very long time checking if a basket by Mathias Lessort was scored before the buzzer.
With Japan back to 40-40, the coach of the Blues is forced to call a time-out to try to remind his troops to put the ball inside. Problem? It's Victor Wembanyama who does it best!
At half-time, the Blues were only two possessions ahead (49-44), with Rui Hachimura already on 14 points, with France not winning the battle inside enough (18 points scored to 12).
Like against Brazil, Victor Wembanyama is the only pivot after the break, but that doesn't help the Blues, who still leave offensive rebounds and 3-pointers… and fall behind (51-52). And even find themselves a little further behind after another 3-pointer from Josh Hawkinson. Forcing Vincent Collet to take a time-out.
Rui Hachimura expelled!
Fortunately, the Blues scored a few 3-pointers and a good end to the quarter by Guerschon Yabusele, who scored, served Rudy Gobert and inveighed against the crowd, allowed France to take the lead (69-64). But it's tough…
Matthew Strazel takes advantage of the huge spaces left in defense by Japan, but Rui Hachimura scores several baskets on Guerschon Yabusele, before committing an unsportsmanlike act on Rudy Gobert. As it is his second (he had already shouldered Bilal Coulibaly), he is forced to leave his teammates!
France then thinks they can breathe… except that a loss of the ball and a 3+1 offered to Yuki Kawamura leave Japan at one point (77-76). The leader even goes for a layup to put his team in front (77-78).
The French shots are short, Victor Wembanyama breaks his teeth on Josh Hawkinson in the low post and Japan can believe more than ever in the upset.
A completely crazy end to the match
The crowd at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium pushes its players, Rudy Gobert against Yuki Kawamura but is countered by Hugh Watanabe, who in the process involuntarily elbows Nicolas Batum. Evan Fournier scores a huge 3-pointer to tie the game at 80 all but Mathew Strazel sends Yuki Kawamura to the free throw line.
He converts both, and Evan Fournier and Victor Wembanyama don't score on the next attack. Yuki Kawamura still ensures the free throws, to put his country at two possessions… but Matthew Strazel succeeds in a four-point action, with the 3-pointer plus the foul! Tied (84-84) with still 10 seconds to play. What madness.
Yuki Kawamura misses the final 3-pointer and the two teams go into overtime!
Victor Wembanyama scores low post with the foul to start overtime and France finally takes the lead again (87-84). “Wemby” insists from afar and Japan let their chance slip away. And the Blues win (94-90) for the second time in two outings. Last match of the group stages against Germany, Friday, at 9:00 p.m.
