Germany, France, and Canada have triumphantly secured their spots in the knockout stage, each displaying formidable performances that underscore their places among basketball's elite. Team USA is now poised to join this elite group, should they emerge victorious against South Sudan on Wednesday.
Germany's Rise
Leading the charge for Germany was Dennis Schroder, whose stellar performance saw him score 20 points and dish out six assists in an 86-73 victory over Brazil. This win not only highlighted Schroder's playmaking capabilities but also guaranteed Germany's place in the quarterfinals. "Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores. That's what he does," noted Jordi Fernandez, acknowledging Schroder's intrinsic scoring prowess.
France's Overtime Thriller
In a nail-biting encounter, France overcame Japan in an overtime match that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Victor Wembanyama was pivotal in this victory, scoring eight of his 18 points during the overtime period. It was Matthew Strazel's incredible four-point play with just 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter that forced the game into overtime. French veteran Nicolas Batum reflected on the tension, stating, "We could've easily given up down four with 10 seconds. We had no solution, and we got a crazy shot from Matthew."
Yuki Kawamura was a standout performer for Japan, scoring a game-high 29 points. Despite Rui Hachimura being ejected after a commanding performance of 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting within just 28 minutes, Japan pushed France to the brink. "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," said Josh Hawkinson, highlighting Japan's relentless spirit.
Canada's Commanding Victory
Meanwhile, Canada displayed sheer dominance with a 93-83 victory over Australia. RJ Barrett led the charge, scoring 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting in just 25 minutes. Australia, despite the loss, remains in second place in Group A. Commenting on Barrett's performance, Dario Brizuela remarked, "He’s our best player, and he knows it. He played an amazing game, and we’re happy for him."
Spain's Triumph Over Greece
In another intense match, Spain claimed an 84-77 victory over Greece. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a force to be reckoned with, netting 27 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and contributing three assists and two steals. Sergio Scariolo, Spain’s head coach, revealed strategic insights into their approach: "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 competition heats up, the stage is set for exhilarating matchups in the knockout phase, with fans eagerly awaiting the continuation of these thrilling performances.