In a tightly contested FIBA exhibition at the Palais des Sports in Orléans, France, the host nation Les Bleus edged Serbia 91-90 in a dramatic finish that left fans on the edge of their seats.
A Close Contest in Orléans
Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, delivered a monster performance, scoring 34 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, underscoring his dominance even against a French side bolstered by rising star Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, the 7‑foot phenom, contributed 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks, showing marked improvement over his earlier exhibition where he managed only 10 points and six turnovers.
The French roster also saw Timothe Luwawu‑Cabarrot pour in 20 points and Sylvain Francisco add 19, while Jaylen Hoard sealed the victory with a buzzer‑beating layup that turned a tied game into a one‑point win.
With a 5‑1 record in qualifying and a recent Olympic silver medal from the 2024 Paris Games, Les Bleus are positioning themselves as strong contenders for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, where they will face Slovenia and Sweden in the next round of fixtures.
The win not only highlights the depth of talent on the French squad but also reinforces the growing rivalry with Serbia, a team that had previously edged them 90‑87 in Belgrade, setting the stage for an exciting summer of international basketball.