Victor Wembanyama, France Advance to Gold Medal Game in Olympic Basketball Bracket

Victor Wembanyama and the French men's basketball team defeated Germany 73-69 in the semifinal round on Thursday to secure a spot in the gold-medal game.

France will face the winner of the United States and Serbia for gold.

While holding onto a narrow two-point lead with less than 10 seconds remaining, French wing Isaia Cordinier connected on a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach.

Wembanyama finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in just under 32 minutes of action.

The 20-year-old struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 4-17 from the field and 1-8 from behind the arc. Wembanyama still found ways to contribute in other areas, as his four assists and three blocks both represented the highest marks on the team.

He also threw down an impressive two-handed dunk over Germany's Daniel Theis.

Wembanyama acknowledged the support from the home crowd following the victory.

The San Antonio Spurs standout was far from the only contributor, as France won due to a balanced team effort. Four players finished with double-digit scoring totals, while 10 players recorded at least one assist.

Guerschon Yabusele finished with a team-high 17 points, shooting 63.6 percent from the field. Rudy Gobert played sparingly as he's dealt with a finger injury during the Olympics, recording one rebound in just over five minutes of playing time on Thursday.

After winning gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Germany won't have a chance to repeat the accomplishment in the Olympics. The team was led by Dennis Schröder on Thursday, as the Brooklyn Nets point guard dropped 18 points and dished out four assists against France.

Despite ending up on the less fortunate end of a poster dunk, Theis was also a key contributor for Germany. He finished with eight points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 26 minutes.

France earned some revenge after the team was previously defeated by Germany during the group stage. Now, Wembanyama and his teammates will await the United States or Serbia for a chance to stand on top of the podium.

A potential clash with the U.S. would represent a rematch of the gold medal contest at the Tokyo Games.