In a pivotal Olympic basketball matchup, Germany secured their spot in the quarterfinals with an 86-73 victory over Brazil. The win, coupled with their previous 97-77 triumph over Japan, guarantees Germany’s advancement and sets up a group-deciding clash with France.The game was a tale of three distinct phases. Germany dominated the early stages, racing to a 14-point lead. However, Brazil, led by Vitor Benite’s sharpshooting, staged a remarkable comeback to tie the game 40-40 at halftime. The third quarter proved decisive as Germany regained control, with NBA stars Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner spearheading the charge.Schröder, who also serves as Germany’s team captain, finished as the game’s top scorer with 20 points, while also contributing 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Wagner added 17 points to the German cause. For Brazil, point guard Yago Santos emerged as the standout performer, notching 18 points and 8 assists.”We knew it would be a very physical game. We held up well against it,” said German player Daniel Theis. Despite the victory, German coach Gordon Herbert expressed some dissatisfaction with the team’s inconsistent performance, noting, “We lost our rhythm”.The loss puts Brazil in a precarious position, having suffered defeats in both of their opening games. To keep their quarterfinal hopes alive, Brazil must now defeat Japan in their final group game and hope for favorable results elsewhere. As Brazilian coach Aleksandar Petrovic stated, “It will be a tough game, but we have to believe in ourselves and play with heart”.In broader Olympic basketball news, France and Canada have also secured their quarterfinal berths. The full quarterfinal field will be determined on Saturday, with the knockout rounds set to commence in Paris next week.
Key points
- Germany secured a spot in the Olympic basketball quarterfinals with an 86-73 win over Brazil.
- Dennis Schröder led Germany with 20 points, while Yago Santos was Brazil’s top performer with 18 points.
- Brazil must now win against Japan and hope for favorable results to have a chance at reaching the quarterfinals.
- France and Canada have also secured their quarterfinal berths in the Olympic basketball tournament.
