Men's Basketball Olympic Updates: Wagners Combine for 34, but Germany Finishes Fourth After Loss to Serbia
7/27/2024 12:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Olympics
• Paris Olympics Site | U-M Olympics Coverage
Saturday, Aug. 10
Serbia 93, Germany 83 (Bronze Medal Game)
In a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, former Wolverines Franz Wagner (18 points, nine rebounds) and Moritz Wagner (16 points, four rebounds), combined for 34 points, but they were not enough as Germany fell 93-83 to Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the bronze medal game at Bercy Arena.
Despite finishing fourth, it was a record-breaking near-year span for the German National Team. After winning its first-ever World Cup in Japan last September, Germany earned its invitation to the 2024 Olympics. Sweeping Group B 3-0, the Germans advanced to their first-ever appearance in the medal round riding a 12-game winning streak.
However, Germany did not earn its first medal as Serbia exacted revenge after falling to the Germans in the 2023 World Cup Final. Balanced scoring from Serbia gave them an early first-quarter advantage, but Germany got a Nick Weiler-Babb three-pointer to drew the Germans within three, 24-21, with just under two minutes remaining.
With a 6-0 run, Serbia regained command heading to the second quarter with a 30-21 advantage. Continuing to drive the basket, Germany got to the free-throw line, but the versatile offensive attack from Jokic and Serbia never saw its lead fall below eight points.
After the halftime break, Germany and Serbia played near even as the Serbians edged the Germans 47-45 in the second half. Scoring 12 of his 16 points in the second half, Moritz Wagner highlighted the German effort, but Germany was unable to recover from the first quarter as it fell, 93-83.
Franz Wagner paced Germany with a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals as he scored in double figures in all six games in Paris. He closed the Olympics averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
With his second double-figure Paris performance, Moritz Wagner finished with 16 points off the bench, with two three-pointers, four rebounds and an assist. Germany's sixth man averaged 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
Thursday, Aug. 8
France 73, Germany 69 (Semifinal)
Despite his fifth straight double-figure performance, Franz Wagner (10 points), brother Moritz Wagner and Germany fell 73-69 to host France in the semifinals at Bercy Arena. The Germans, who saw their 12-game win streak snapped, will play for the bronze medal on Saturday (Aug. 10) against Serbia.
After trailing by as many as nine points (69-60) with four minutes left, Germany made a valiant comeback that fell just short. Capping off an 8-1 run, a key three-pointer from Franz Wagner pulled the Germans to within two, 70-68, with 39 seconds left. Fouling Victor Wembanyama with 10 seconds left, he made just one of his two free throws.
Franz Wagner made another three-pointer to tie the game, but teammate Dennis Schroder was called for traveling giving the ball back to the French. Schroder drew a foul with nine seconds left but missed the front end. With Germany forced to foul, France's Isaia Cordinier closed out the game draining a pair of decisive free throws.
In a rematch of the Group B finale, the German backcourt of Franz Wagner and Schroder got Germany off to a strong start with two early triples to help the Germans jump out to a 12-2 lead. However, Cordinier paced a French comeback with a 14-6 run to draw within two, 18-16, with two minutes left in the opening quarter. Closing 7-2 run which included a highlight alley-oop dunk by Moritz Wagner, Germany headed to the second quarter with a 25-18 advantage.
The French continued to chip away at the start of the second quarter, but Germany countered with inside scoring holding a five-point lead (30-25) midway through the quarter. Cordinier and Wembanyama would not let Germany pull away as the duo helped with an 8-3 run, sending the game to halftime tied at 33.
Coming out of the break, France's size hampered the German offense. France's Nicolas Batum drained an early third-quarter triple giving the French their first lead of the game. It would be a lead they would not relinquish as they held a six-point advantage, 56-50, heading to the final quarter.
Franz Wagner finished the game with 10 points and added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Moritz Wagner played 14 minutes off the bench, scoring four points.
The bronze medal game will be played at 5 a.m. EDT at Bercy Arena.
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Germany 76, Greece 63 (Quarterfinal)
With a team-best 18 points from Franz Wagner and eight points off the bench from Moritz Wagner, Germany earned its first-ever trip to the Olympic medal round following a 76-63 victory over Greece in the quarterfinal at the Bercy Arena.
After trailing by 12 early, Germany held Greece to just 23 second-half points to earn its fourth straight double-digit win at the Olympics. The win marked Germany's 12th straight in international play since winning the 2023 World Cup.
Opening the quarterfinal, the reigning world champions quickly found themselves down 10-2 after missing five of their first six shots. Greece's NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo extended that lead with a pair of highlight reel dunks, giving the Greeks a 21-11 lead after the first quarter.
A pair of second-quarter buckets by Franz and Moritz helped Germany slowly chip away at Greece's double-digit lead. After seven minutes of back-and-forth action, Germany trailed by just three, 33-30. Using a closing 6-0 run and a quarter-ending alley-oop slam by Daniel Theis from Dennis Schroder, Germany headed into halftime all square at 36-36.
With a quick 8-5 run out of the break, Greece reclaimed the lead, 44-41, three minutes into the third quarter. After a steal and another highlight dunk followed by a deep three-pointer from Franz, Germany used a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 50-47. Despite Antetokounmpo re-tying the game on a free throw, Germany's 9-2 run gave the Germans a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Germany stymied the Greeks with its defense in the fourth quarter as the Greeks scored just five points in the first eight and a half minutes. Meanwhile, Franz helped the Germans reach a double-digit lead with six of his 18 points that they would not relinquish cruising to the victory, 76-63.
Franz paced Germany with a team-best 18 points with three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Once again, Moritz drew the defensive assignment of guarding Antetokounmpo and finished with eight points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench.
With the victory, the Germans advanced to their first semifinal appearance and will face the winner between host nation France and Group A winner Canada. The semifinal is scheduled for Thursday (Aug. 8) at 11:30 a.m. EDT at the Bercy Arena.
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
Friday, Aug. 2
Germany 85, France 71 (Group B)
With a game-high-tying 26 points from Franz Wagner and eight points off the bench from brother, Moritz Wagner, Germany defeated host nation France, 85-71, at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium to claim Group B with a perfect 3-0 mark. The win marked Germany's 11th straight in international play since winning the 2023 World Cup.
Germany advanced to the quarterfinals, which begin on Tuesday (Aug. 6), fighting for the top overall seed of the eight advancing teams. The Germans have a +45 scoring differential, while Canada, who won Group A (3-0), has a +20 advantage. With one game remaining, the United States (2-0) leads Group C with a +43 advantage and squares off against Puerto Rico on Saturday (Aug. 3).
Despite a crowd-inspired France team battling early, Germany stymied the French with its defense as the first quarter closed with the Germans holding a 24-18 lead. In a dominating second quarter, Franz and backcourt mate Dennis Schroder (26 points) helped the Germans build a 21-point advantage following a runaway 24-9 second quarter.
Countering any French third-quarter run, Germany maintained a double-figure lead heading into the final quarter. With several German starters on the bench, France cut its deficit from 21 to 12 before Franz and the other starters were reinserted. With back-to-back three-pointers and key rebounding, Germany maintained its double-figure lead and to close with a 14-point win.
Franz, who combined with Schroder to score 52 of Germany's 84 points, used balanced shooting, two key three-pointers, and several highlight-reel dunks, to finish 8-for-15 from the field with a perfect 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Once again coming off the bench, Moritz finished with eight points and a rebound, while battling international superstar Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
Tuesday, July 30
Germany 86, Brazil 73 (Group B)
With 17 points from Franz Wagner and eight points off the bench from Moritz Wagner, the German national team rallied in the second half to record their second Group B win with an 86-73 victory over Brazil today (Tuesday, July 30) at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium. The win marked the 10th straight in international play for Germany since winning the 2023 World Cup.
Getting off to a strong start, Germany carried an early 22-10 lead into the second quarter. However, German turnovers and strong long-range shooting from Brazil helped the Brazilians to a 30-18 second quarter, sending the game tied at 40-40 into the break.
Coming out of the break, Franz and teammate Dennis Schroder (20 points, six assists) spurred Germany's defensive effort as the Germans used a 20-11 run to take control of the game. Countering any Brazilian score in the fourth quarter, Germany would go on take the victory.
In a 31-minute effort, starting guard Franz had 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals. He finished 7-for-15 from the field. Moritz scored eight points while pulling down six rebounds and dishing three assists. Going 4-for-4 at the free throw line, he remains perfect in two games (9-for-9).
The Germans will close Group B pool play by facing Olympic hosts France on Friday (Aug. 2) at 3 p.m. EDT.
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
Saturday, July 27
Germany 97, Japan 77 (Group B)
With a game-high 22 points from Franz Wagner and 15 points off the bench from Moritz Wagner, the German national team opened its Group B play with a 97-77 victory over Japan today (Saturday, July 27) at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Germany was set to run away amid a 17-6 second-quarter run that opened up a 16-point lead, but Japan continued to push the pace and trim the lead to eight at halftime. In the end, though, Germany's size and athleticism -- particularly the quickness of Dennis Schroder -- was too much to handle in a wire-to-wire victory.
Starting guard Franz closed 9-for-17 from the field with a pair of three-pointers. He added six rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 26 minutes. Moritz was 5-for-10 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. He added five rebounds, and three assists in 18 minutes.
The Germans are set to face Brazil in the second game of group play on Tuesday (July 30).
• Game Replay (NBC Olympics, Peacock)
