Gold Medal Game Bound: France and Wembanyama Defeat Germany in Semifinals

The San Antonio Spurs will have a representative in the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as Victor Wembanyama and France came back from a ten-point deficit to beat Germany in the semifinals, 73-69.

Wembanyama added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Guerschon Yabusele led the way for France with 17 points, while MVP chants rained down from the home crowd in Paris. Dennis Schroder led all scorers with 18 points, but it was not enough to advance.

While Wembanyama's box score numbers are not super gaudy, his effect on the game was immeasurable. During their group stage loss to the Germans earlier in the tournament, Wembanyama was used as a roving defender, while Rudy Gobert anchored the defense down low.

In the last two games against Germany and Canada, Gobert came off the bench and Wemabnayama was the main detterenat down low. The Germans took 34 shots from three in just 40 minutes, compared to the NBA's 35.1 average last season in eight extra minutes. Clearly, Schroder and company did not want to meet Wembanyama at the rim, although he was more than happy to swat shots from behind the arc.

While Wembanyama's three blocks were just enough to propel France forward, it was team captain Nicolas Batum who sealed the block of the tournament, chasing down Schroder from miles away to reject a layup.

France, cheered on by their home crowd, will play the winner of Serbia and the United States, which tips off at 2:00 PM CST. The gold medal game is scheduled for Saturday, August 10 at 2:30 PM CST and can be streamed on Peacock.

Related: WATCH: Victor Wembanyama Ties Olympic Semifinal With Thunderous Dunk