In a thrilling bronze medal match, Canada and Germany battled it out in a contest that saw dramatic momentum shifts. Canada, eager to secure their first podium finish in men’s wheelchair basketball since 2012, and Germany, seeking their first medal since 1992, both had history and pride on the line.
The game opened with a determined Canadian defense that made it difficult for Germany to find any rhythm. Struggling to get clean looks at the basket, the Germans were forced into low-percentage, long-range shots. The second quarter saw their shooting woes continue, with Canada capitalising on fast breaks and extending their lead to eight points by halftime. At that point, it seemed the Canadians might have the game wrapped up by the third quarter.
However, the tide began to turn in the third. Although Canada maintained a five-point advantage for most of the quarter, foul trouble loomed large for several key players. A German timeout midway through the period sparked a tactical shift, with their full-court press pressuring Canada into mistakes. A steal off the inbound in the final seconds of the third quarter cut the lead to just one point, with Germany outscoring Canada by seven in that frame. Canada now found themselves in a precarious position heading into the final quarter.
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Less than a minute into the fourth, Germany took the lead—and they never looked back. Riding a 12-0 run, Germany tightened their defense, forcing Canada into tough shots that wouldn’t fall. A late Canadian surge, featuring a clutch three-pointer, cut the deficit, but it was too little, too late. Fouling to extend the game proved futile, and Germany completed the comeback, winning 75-62 after trailing for most of the match.
Germany’s Thomas Boehme was instrumental, finishing with a stellar 36 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. Canada’s Patrick Anderson delivered an equally impressive performance, posting 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, but it wasn’t enough to halt the German charge.
For more updates on the wheelchair basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, visit the event page or follow the action on social media using #Paris2024WBB.
Written by Esha Nayar by IWBF
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