Despite a great team effort and an impressive performance from Rui Hachimura, Japan could not hold on in overtime and fell to France at the 2024 Olympics.
A hard-fought battle ended in defeat for Japan, losing 94-90, to France on Tuesday morning.
Rui Hachimura had a standout game, pouring in 24 points on 10-16 shooting from the field as well as 3-5 shooting from the 3-point line. He also chipped in three rebounds as well.
The biggest moment of the game for him, though, came when he was ejected in the fourth quarter on a fairly egregious call.
Japan did a great job going toe-to-toe with France through each quarter, often snatching the lead, tying the game, and making it close. In overtime, France completely took over.
Japan jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, led by Rui, who scored the first two points for the team. It was a great bounceback from a rough first game of group play. He struggled from behind the arc to start but found his groove as the game went on.
He started hot in the first going 3-5 from the field, with his one miss being a 3-pointer. He made a sweet midrange shot against Rudy Gobert. Rui looked much more comfortable and fluid with his shot in this game.
Rui Hachimura hits the pull up jumper over Gobert, Japan has taken the lead! pic.twitter.com/1WqGfytGd4
— Global Hoops Daily (@worldhoopsfan) July 30, 2024
He was tasked with defending Victor Wembanyama and did as good a job as anyone could. In one great defense play, Rui took the chair from under Wemby.
In the second quarter, his offense slowed a little as he went 2-6 from the field, but he was still in rhythm and looked good. A pull-up jumper by him put Japan ahead of France with two minutes left until halftime.
Rui made two of his three shot attempts in the third quarter. Before he was ejected in the fourth, he had made two 3-pointers and was putting the team on his back as they continued to make it a close game.
Rui Hachimura hits a HUGE three to cut it to 5! pic.twitter.com/PYyVeMvHb0
— Global Hoops Daily (@worldhoopsfan) July 30, 2024
One player for Japan stepped up big time for the team: Yuki Kawamura scored 29 huge points going 6-15 from behind the arc. Josh Hawkinson always played an excellent game for Japan, pitching in with 16 points and a few clutch buckets.
Rui was putting the team on his back and scored with ease. If Rui had not been ejected, the overtime period would’ve been more competitive, if they even needed it.
He still has work to do defensively, but he was guarding Wemby, who is impossible to guard.
Some NBA teams need to look into signing players from Japan because they are sharpshooters.
Japan’s next matchup is against Brazil on Friday at 2:00 AM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
