ORLEANS (France) – It’s been an up-and-down summer for France. They kicked off their campaign with a couple of impressive wins, capturing the basketball world's attention with Victor Wembanyama’s standout performances, especially his offensive synergy with Rudy Gobert. However, reality hit hard for Vincent Collet’s squad as they lost three consecutive games, raising concerns about their half-court offense and Wembanyama’s ability to compete against tough opponents.
Meanwhile, Australia has been consistently strong, suffering only one loss to Team USA this year. With Patty Mills in top FIBA form and well-defined roles across the team, the Boomers are firmly in the mix as top medal contenders.
This final preparation game was a crucial test for both teams. Australia clinched a narrow victory with a clutch performance from their backcourt, edging out France with a final score of 82-83.
The story of the game
The Aussies picked up right where they left off in their previous games, with Patty Mills scoring 11 early points. France struggled on both ends of the floor, allowing the visitors to build a 7-point lead.
However, things started to turn around for France with the introduction of Guerschon Yabusele, who added much-needed mobility to their frontcourt, and Victor Wembanyama began playing a more traditional center role. A three-pointer from Nando De Colo gave France their first lead of the game late in the first quarter.
France continued to push and managed to extend their lead to 6 points before halftime, despite a couple big three-pointers from Australia that momentarily silenced the crowd.
The hosts continued to look solid on offense in the third quarter, but the Aussies kept responding with timely shots. Jack McVeigh's three-pointer at the buzzer tied the game at 63 as the quarter ended.
The final quarter was highly entertaining, with both teams exchanging baskets at a rapid pace. In the closing minutes, Vincent Collet implemented a two-man game between Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, which proved effective, particularly for their alley-oop connections.
Wembanyama then lost the ball but played strong defense on Patty Mills, while Frank Ntilikina briefly put France in front with two made free throws.
However, in the final possession, France struggled to secure the ball, giving Australia two additional chances. Brian Goorjian called a timeout, and his team executed flawlessly, with Dyson Daniels securing the win for the Boomers.
The player of the game
Patty Mills, despite missing a couple of crucial shots in the final moments, once again carried the Boomers when they needed him most. The 35-year-old guard scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting in just 29 minutes, demonstrating his continued dominance in FIBA competitions.
Josh Giddey, though struggling with 7 turnovers, played a key role in the win, contributing 20 points (including 4-of-8 from three-point range), 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama fell just two assists short of a triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Although his final shot didn’t find the basket, he remained composed and upbeat after the game despite the loss.
I'm not worried, we'll be ready in 6 days - Victor Wembanyama
The stats of the game
France struggled with ball control, committing 22 turnovers, which contributed to their narrow loss. Australia also had their share of issues, with 19 turnovers, but it was France’s mistakes that allowed the game to come down to the wire.
On the positive side, France recorded 24 team assists, one of their best performances this summer, and shot 43% from beyond the arc—encouraging signs as they head into the Olympics. Nico Batum was great for Les Bleus with 4 threes made on 5 attempts.
The takeaways from the game
Four straight losses leading up to the home Olympics are certainly a concern for Les Bleus' fans, who may be recalling the team’s loss to Japan in their final preparation game three years ago before their silver finish in Tokyo. Despite this recent setback against Australia, there were positive takeaways for France, including effective ball movement and finding scoring options beyond just Wembanyama.
For Australia, the win served as another solid testament to their strength. Patty Mills and his teammates are aiming for a second consecutive podium finish, and if they can navigate the tough competition in Group A, they could be well-positioned for success.
Australia will kick off their Olympic campaign against Spain on July 27, while France will face Brazil on the same day.
FIBA