Led by the play of last season’s NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic (29, Denver), Serbia has claimed the bronze medal in men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Serbia defeated Germany 93-83 in the men’s basketball bronze medal game at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France, on Tuesday (Feb. 10).
It was Serbia’s second medal of the Games, after winning silver at Rio 2016.
Serbia had previously played top-seeded USA in the quarterfinals, 메이저사이트 falling 91-95 to force a bronze medal game.
Serbia also avenged a 77-83 loss to Germany in last year’s Basketball World Cup final. That time, they were without ace Jokic due to injury.
Serbia’s standout center Jokic recorded a “triple-double” with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead his team to victory.
The Serbs, who led by more than 17 points at one point against the United States in the quarterfinals, continued their momentum.
Leading 30-21 after the first quarter, Serbia never relinquished the lead and never looked back.
Along with Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic was the team’s one-two punch with 16 points, including three 3-pointers.
Germany got 18 points from Franz Wagner, who plays for the NBA’s Orlando Magic, and 13 points and six assists from last year’s Basketball World Cup MVP Dennis Schroder, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the team from losing.