PARIS is going to be sleeping easier tonight.
What looked like a disaster of Eiffel proportions turned into jubilation for those who were inside the Pierre Mauroy Stadium as hosts France survived a fiery Japan assault in the fourth to take a 94-90 thriller in overtime and stay unbeaten in Group B of the men’s basketball tournament of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Matthew Strazel completed a miracle four-point play with seconds left in regulation, before Victor Wembanyama took over in extra time as Les Bleus survived an upset-conscious Akatsuki Five who was playing sans Rui Hachimura who got thrown out midway through the fourth quarter.
The win allowed France to stay on top of Group B as they moved closer and closer to getting that quarterfinals seat.
But up until the final 16 seconds of regulation, France couldn't have been farther from the playoffs as Japan looked poised to complete the shocker behind the hot hands of spitfire guard Yuki Kawamura.
With Hachimura ejected after getting his second technical foul early in the fourth, Kawamura took over, scoring 10 points in the period including the go-ahead basket, and four crucial free throws down the stretch which gave them an 84-80 lead with seconds left on the clock.
That's when Strazel made his heroics as he drained a three pointer near the left corner while being fouled by Kawamura as France equalized with 10 seconds remaining, injecting life back into the shellshocked Parisians in the stadium.
Kawamura missed a three-pointer as time expired in regulation.
Come the overtime, France's size was just too much as Wembanyama scored the first eight points of the extra period while being a menace on the defensive end to finally put away this tough fighting Japanese squad.
Wembanyama finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, while Strazel added 17.
NBA veteran Evan Fournier also hit some big shots in regulation to finish with 14 points.
It was a tough loss to swallow for the lone Asian representatives in men's basketball, especially since they came a stop away from pulling off one of the biggest upsets in Olympic basketball history.
Kawamura finished with 29 points, seven rebounds ands six assists while Hachimura added 24 before his ejection.
The loss dropped Japan to 0-2 and will need a huge miracle in the final game day of the group stages to advance.
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