Wagner brothers Franz and Moritz led Germany’s attack in the World No. 3 squad's opening win over Japan in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball.
Germany did not need to play with flair to show why it is the reigning FIBA World Cup champion when it faced off with Japan in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball play on Saturday, July 27 (Philippine time).
The Die Mannschaft played the way they have, methodical and calm under pressure on their way to a 97-77 win over the Japanese side in Group B action at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
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The Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, proved too much to handle for the Akatsuki Five, with the former showing the way for Germany with 22 points and six rebounds and the latter finishing with 15-5.
Behind the two, Germany asserted its might early before kicking into high gear in the fourth period to establish a 92-72 lead on Daniel Theis' flush with 2:13 remaining in the game.
Theis finished with 18 points and seven boards.
At that point, Japan could not do anything despite staying within striking distance early on.
After trailing by 16 points late in the second period, Japan B.League MVP Yuki Kawamura made things happen for the Akatsuki Five, anchoring a 9-to-nothing run, 47-40.
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But the Japan quintet just did not have the consistency to deal the World No. 2 an upset loss in France.
Every time the squad seemed ready to make a searing rally, Germany was there to douse it.
Rui Hachimura topscored for Japan with 20 points, but just shot 21 percent (4-for-19) from the field. He also had 10 rebounds and two assists in over 36 minutes of play.
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Yuta Watanabe fired 16 points built on six triples, but he could do little against the methodical Germans especially in the fourth period.
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Japan naturalized player Josh Hawkinson had 13 points and 11 rebounds.