Victor Wembanyama had an easy time during the first three minutes and the last five minutes of Tuesday’s game. The rest of the game was challenging.
After briefly leaving the court late in the first quarter with discomfort in his lower right leg and later in his left hip, Wembanyama appeared to be struggling during France’s second game of the Paris Olympics.
Despite this, he scored 18 points, including a three-point play that put his team ahead for good just 26 seconds into overtime. France managed to hold off a serious upset attempt by Japan, winning 94-90.
When asked about the change in overtime, Wembanyama said, “The realization, the dynamic of the game. They were playing like underdogs and we were waiting for them to punch a little bit too much. I wanted to make a point and punch first in overtime. And it worked.”
Regarding his physical issues, he said, “Not the hip. Other places, but not the hip.”
The game was tied at 84 going into overtime, as Wembanyama had not been very effective during the last 3½ quarters of regulation.
In overtime, Wembanyama took charge.
He scored eight points in the first 4:26. During that time, no one else scored for either team, and he ensured France would win.
He got help from Matthew Strazel, who made a four-point play to tie the game for France with 10.2 seconds left in regulation—“the shot of his life,” according to Wembanyama. Japanese star Rui Hachimura, who scored 24 points, was ejected early in the fourth quarter after receiving his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game.
Even without Hachimura, Japan’s players kept fighting and almost pulled off an upset.
“We lost Rui but never gave up,” said 5-foot-8 Japan guard Yuri Kawamura, who led all scorers with 29 points. “That’s it.”
