Paris 2024 Olympics: Men's basketball highlights and top performers on July 27
Men’s basketball tipped off at Paris 2024 Saturday 27 July with a quartet of intriguing games at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.
The first game of the day saw two top-ranked FIBA teams clash as Australia battled Spain. Led by the passing of Josh Giddey and the scoring of Jock Landale, who finished with 20 points, the Boomers pulled out a 92-80 victory. Santi Aldama led Spain with 27 points.
Germany opened group play at Paris 2024 with a decisive 97-77 win over Japan. Franz Wagner led Germany with 22 points and six rebounds while Hachimura Rui was Japan’s leading scorer with 20 points.
Victor Wembanyama made his Olympic debut in his home country as France overcame a first-half deficit to defeat Brazil 78-66. The 20-year-old NBA star with the San Antonio Spurs stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Nicolas Batum also had 19 points for France. Leo Meindl and Cristiano Felicio both had 14 points for Brazil.
Canada staved off a late push by NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece, opening Paris 2024 with a 86-79 win. The duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett combined for 44 points, bolstering the Canadian offence. Dillon Brooks chipped in 14 points of his own. Antetokounmpo scored 34 points on just 17 shots and Kostas Papanikolaou added 17 points of his own.
Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket during their Group A game against Canada on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Game of the Day: Greece vs Canada
Over the last few years, Canada has risen to become one of the most formidable teams in FIBA, but they were immediately tested in their first Olympic group stage game against Greece and Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP.
Canada led by as many as 17 points before the Greek team came storming back, trailing by as little as two points in the final minutes. Antetekoumpo was up to his usual dominant self, scoring 34 points to go with five rebounds and two assists, but Greece struggled to find consistent offence from anyone other than their star.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit several big shots down the stretch, including a floater high off the glass to extend Canada’s lead to four in the final minute.
RJ Barrett gives out a shout during Canada's Group A game against Greece on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Player of the Day: Josh Giddey
While Wembanyama, Barrett and Antetokounmpo warranted consideration, the player of the day in men’s basketball was Giddey of Australia. The 21-year-old displayed tremendous poise running the Boomers’ offence, especially against one of the better teams in the world. He showed decisiveness and quickness getting to the rim, scoring 17 points to go along with his usual high-level passing, notching eight. Giddy even added eight boards and knocked down two three-pointers to top off a complete statline. Between his individual performance and Australia’s win over an experienced Spanish team, Giddy gets the nod for 27 July.
Honourable mention
Antetokounmpo was the top scorer in men’s basketball Saturday, scoring 34 points and shooting 65 per cent from the field. He will have to replicate this performance moving forward if Greece hopes to advance to the knockout stages at Paris 2024.
Josh Giddey, Group A match between Australia and Spain on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Olympic Basketball Results for 27 July
Australia defeats Spain, 92-80
Germany beats Japan, 97-77
France wins against Brazil, 78-66
Canada beats Greece, 86-79
Franz Wagner, Group A match between Germany and Japan on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Olympic Basketball schedule for 28 July
South Sudan vs Puerto Rico, 5 a.m. EST
Serbia vs United States, 11:15 a.m. EST