Boomers’ thrilling win over France in Paris 2024 Olympics warm-up marred by Dante Exum injury
The Australian men’s basketball team wrapped up their Paris 2024 Olympics preparations with a thrilling 83-82 win over hosts France at the Co'Met Arena in Orleans on Sunday.
However, the Boomers’ clutch victory was marred by an injury to Dante Exum, who suffered a dislocated finger during the course of the match.
With just over two seconds left on the clock, Australia were trailing France by one point before Josh Giddey set up Dyson Daniels for the winning basket of the match. Daniels, who has been a big impact player for Brian Goorjian’s side after making the World Cup squad last year, finished with 14 points, two rebounds and five assists.
The Australian charge against France, however, was led by captain Patty Mills (24 points, two rebounds and three assists) and Josh Giddey (20 points, six rebounds and eight assists).
Victor Wembanyama was the pick of the French legion with 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. The 20-year-old rising basketball phenom stopped just two assists short of a triple-double and was the driving force behind the French team.
World No. 5 Australia started the match well and surged to an early seven-point lead thanks to Mills’ early surge but Wembanyama led the French fightback to help his team take a 28-27 lead into the second quarter.
France, ranked ninth in the world, extended their lead to six at half-time but the Boomers came out swinging in the second-half before Giddey and Daniels’ clutch combination in the dying seconds swung the match in Australia’s favour.
This was the final warm-up game for both sides in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Drawn in Group A with Canada, Spain and Greece, the Boomers will kickstart their Paris 2024 campaign against France on Saturday before taking on Canada on July 30 and Greece on August 2.
Australia won a bronze at Tokyo 2020 and scripted history by becoming the first nation from outside the Americas and Europe to win a medal in men's basketball.