Japan are looking to end their campaign in the Paris Olympics on a positive note, as they go against Brazil, for their last group stage match. Heading into this match, these two teams have nothing to lose, as they failed to advance in the next round. Japan lost to France in overtime, losing by four points after Rui Hachimura was ejected with eight minutes left. France needed a four-point play to force overtime, holding off Japan as a massive underdog. Brazil suffered a double-digit loss to Germany, dropping to 0-2 in pool play. Moreover, Brazil struggled to generate offense for the second consecutive game, and not having a single starter in double figures. The meeting between these two teams is on August 2, 2024, at 5:00 PM (GMT+8).
Japan Basketball Team
Japan, despite not being favored in Group B, currently occupy third place and has a chance to advance to the playoffs as one of the two best third-place finishers. They trail behind South Sudan and Spain, who each have one victory. In their opening match against a strong German team, Japan lost by 20 points. In the second round against France, Japan played well but nearly caused an upset by forcing the game into overtime. However, a controversial referee’s decision allowed France to cancel the deficit, forcing the game into overtime. Japan’s best player, Rui Hachimura, was ejected after two fouls, but Yuki Kawamura continued to score, bringing Japan close to achieving historic success. Japan’s atypical basketball style, with many three-point shots, makes it difficult for rivals to break out of this rhythm.
Brazil Basketball Team
Brazil, with just 2 points, is in contention for a playoff spot from third place. They lost both their matches in regulation time and have a worse point differential compared to Japan. Brazil came to Paris as underdogs in the group, and a win in this match would put them in contention. In the first-round match against France, Brazil managed to win the first quarter 23:15, but the hosts quickly recovered and won 78:66. Brazil showed quality, but it was not enough minutes. A bad start and only 10 points in the first quarter led to a double-digit deficit. Yago dos Santos helped catch up with his team, but Isaac Bonga took over as guard, which did not benefit Brazil. Aleksandar Petrovic’s risk with Bruno Caboclo did not pay off, as Partizan’s center played in the third quarter despite four personal fouls.
Prediction:
Japan Basketball Team
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