France shocks USA in men’s basketball
OLYMPICS
France ......................... 83 USA ............................. 76
TOKYO – A USA team led by 11time NBA All-Star Kevin Du rant were beaten 83-76 by France in a huge Olympic basketball upset yesterday.
The French, with a team containing NBA players including Rudy Gobert and Evan Four ni er, held Du rant to just 10 points in the firstround game.
The Americans had looked rusty in the build- up to Tokyo, losing to Nigeria in a warm- up game, and the defeat will underline Durant’s fears expressed before the Games that his side will not face a “cakewalk” in Japan.
Sensational
Four ni er was sensation al for France, top- scoring with 28 points. Although the Boston Celtics player only scored four from 12 from the three-point line, he found his range when it mattered to help the French came from behind to stun the Americans.
“I tried to be aggressive. As an NBA player I know the players we were facing. We had to show the team how to attack them,” Fournier said.
France clawed back from a 10- point deficit to setup a breathless final quarter and as the USA failed to find any rhythm – and Durant failed to help his team – the French took control.
Fournier ’s three-pointer t hree- pointer with with 57 57 seconds remaining put his team ahead 76- 74 and when Durant hit the rim with a three- pointer himself the French closed out the game with a succession of free throws.
When Jayson Tatum fouled Nicolas Batum, the French veteran NBA forward hit both from the line to seal a famous victory.