Yuki Togashi (2) and other members of the Japanese men's basketball team are seen after falling 76-71 to Finland on July 11, 2021, at Okinawa Arena, southern Japan. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese men's basketball team fell 76-71 to Finland on Sunday in the last of three international friendlies at Okinawa Arena aimed at preparing the Olympic hosts for the Tokyo Games.

       Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe led Japan with 17 points and Chiba Jets big man Gavin Edwards contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for Japan, which trailed by as many as 13 before closing the gap to three with 2:03 left.

       Julio Lamas' squad, which was without the services of Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, finished the round robin with one win and two losses, beating Hungary 79-58 on Wednesday and going down 73-70 to Belgium on Friday.

       Japan, ranked 42nd in the world, will start its Olympic men's basketball campaign against second-ranked Spain in a Group C preliminary-round game on July 26. It will face 16th-ranked Slovenia three days later and world No. 4 Argentina on Aug. 1.

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