If this is a preview of their Olympic clash in Group B, Akatsuki Japan might be in trouble against world champion Germany.
Franz Wagner and Germany look to be peaking at the right time.
Wagner fired 27 points and the reigning FIBA world champions were simply too much to handle for Akatsuki Japan, scoring a 104-83 win in the Berlin Basketball Festival ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Team captain Dennis Schroder chipped in 12 points and four dimes for Germany, who led by as many as 25 points on their way to a commanding win in front of their home fans in Berlin.
Rui Hachimura tallied a team-high 19 points and five rebounds in his return to the Japan national team. Meanwhile, Yuki Togashi chipped in 12 markers for the Akatsuki.
Germany has won three straight preparation games for Paris, and the world champions will wrap up exhibitions with a showdown against Team USA.
As for Japan, the Akatsuki only have one win in prep games to show for, a home decision against South Korea in the SoftBank Cup.
Germany and Japan are set to collide with each other once again in the opening game of Paris 2024 in Group B.
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Story Summary:
- Franz Wagner shines with 27 points and 8 rebounds as world champion Germany dominates Akatsuki Japan in a pre-Olympic showdown in Berlin.
- Team captain Dennis Schröder contributes 12 points and 4 assists, highlighting Germany's commanding performance.
- Germany extends its winning streak to three games ahead of Paris 2024, while Japan, led by Rui Hachimura with 19 points, prepares for a rematch in the Olympic opener.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]