By Aris Barkas/ [email protected]
PARIS, FRANCE – After a memorable semi-final against the USA, the Serbs did not want to end the Olympic Games in Paris without a medal.
They also faced world champions Germany, who defeated them in the final of the FIBA World Championship last September.
So there was a lot at stake: Nikola Jokic and Vasilje Micic, who were missing in Manila, played in Paris and the result was an easy 93-83 victory.
Including Yugoslavia’s results, this is the second bronze medal for the Serbs after 1984. In addition, they have also won four silver medals (1968, 1976, 1988, 1996, 2016) and one gold medal (1980).
Nikola Jokic scored the fifth triple-double in Olympic history with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Micic was also the best scorer for the Serbs with 19 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 16 points. Aleksa Abramovic contributed 13 points as well as 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Franz Wagner was close to a double-double with 18 points and 9 rebounds for the losing team, while his brother Mo Wagner contributed 16 points.
Good start for the Serbs
The Serbs took the lead from the start of the game, finished the first quarter with a nine-point lead (30-21) and extended their lead to 14 points (37-23) after two converted free throws by Jokic.
The Germans tried to respond and made it an eight-point game (43-35), but did not get any closer, losing three shots in a row and ending the first half with a deficit of 46-38.
Micic was the Serbians’ top scorer with 12 points, while Jokic had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Keep your distance
Filip Petrusev opened the second half by scoring four points in a row to increase the Serbian lead to 12 again (50-38). He then blocked Franz Wagner and Jokic again made it a 14-point game (52-38).
Germany responded with a 7:2 run (54:45), but Aleksa Avramovic restored order with five quick points (59:45).
A three-pointer by Ognen Dubric gave Serbia a 19-point lead (64-45), but the Germans still tried to react and reduced the lead to nine points at the end of the third quarter (72-64).
In the last ten minutes of the match, Serbia managed to gain even more distance from the world champions.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball
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