The Australian men’s basketball team completed their preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday with a thrilling 83-82 victory over hosts France at the Cosme Arena in Orléans.
However, the Boomers’ clutch victory was marred by an injury to Dante Exum in which he dislocated his finger during the game.
With just over two seconds remaining, Australia were leading by one point over France, but Josh Guidi converted Dyson Daniels for the winning goal of the match. Daniels made a big impact on Brian Gaujan’s team after joining last year’s World Cup squad, posting 14 points, two rebounds and five assists.
However, Australia’s match against France was led by captain Patty Mills (24 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists) and Josh Guidi (20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists).
Victor Wenbanyama was selected from the French Legion and recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. The 20-year-old budding basketball phenom was just two assists away from a triple-double and became a driving force for the French team.
Australia, ranked fifth in the world, got off to a good start and extended their lead to seven points early on with an early surge from Mills, but Wembane Yama led France’s fightback and the team took a 28-27 lead into the second half. He helped get us into the quarter.
France, ranked ninth in the world, had extended their lead to six points by half-time, but the Boomers maintained their good form in the second half, with clutch combinations from Guidi and Daniels in the closing stages to swing the game in Australia’s favor.
This was the last warm-up match for both countries in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Boomers, who are in Group A with Canada, Spain and Greece, begin their 2024 trip to Paris against France on Saturday, before playing Canada on July 30th and Greece on August 2nd.
Australia made history by winning bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games, becoming the first country outside of the Americas and Europe to win a medal in men’s basketball.
