Team USA basketball vs. France score, Tokyo Olympics: U.S. collapses late, loses first Olympic game since 2004

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Group USA’s males’s basketball group tipped off the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with a disappointing 83-76 loss to France within the preliminary group stage spherical. The loss marks the USA’ first Olympic defeat since 2004 when it fell to each Puerto Rico and Lithuania in group play. It additionally snapped a 25-game Olympic profitable streak for the U.S. It is the USA’ second straight loss to France in worldwide play, because the French additionally prevailed within the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Nonetheless, it is the primary time Group USA has ever misplaced to France in Olympic play, because it was beforehand 6-0 within the matchup.

Evan Fournier led the way in which for France with a game-high 28 factors on 11-of-22 taking pictures from the ground, whereas Rudy Gobert added 14 factors and 9 rebounds of his personal. As a group, France shot a formidable 47 % from the ground. It outscored the U.S. 46-31 within the second half, and went on a formidable 16-2 run to shut out the sport and safe the win.

Jrue Vacation, contemporary off serving to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship, led Group USA with 18 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists within the loss. Bam Adebayo additionally added 12 factors and 10 rebounds for the U.S., which is able to now must regroup earlier than dealing with off towards Iran of their second sport in group play on Wednesday.

The 12 groups which can be competing within the Olympics are cut up into three teams and each group inside a gaggle faces the opposite three groups from the group for a complete of three video games within the group stage. The groups that end in first and second place in every group will advance into the quarterfinals, together with the 2 finest third-place groups general. So, whereas the loss to France is not splendid for the U.S., it would not finish its probabilities of profitable a fourth consecutive gold medal.

This is a take a look at three key takeaways from France’s upset of the USA.

1. Fournier was the very best participant on the ground

There was no scarcity of star energy on the court docket for the competition between the USA and France. The U.S. roster has a plethora of NBA All-Stars, champions and a former league MVP in Kevin Durant, and the French group has the NBA’s reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr in Rudy Gobert. Nonetheless, the very best participant on the ground throughout this sport was Evan Fournier.

Fournier hit massive bucket after massive bucket for France, and in the end his manufacturing was a serious figuring out issue within the contest. In all, he completed with a game-high 28 factors whereas taking pictures 50 % from the ground (11 of twenty-two). He additionally knocked down 4 3s and grabbed 4 rebounds. He hit a 3 with only a minute remaining to place France up 76-74, and so they have been capable of maintain onto the lead from there.

After the sport, Fournier provided an honest assessment of Group USA. “They’re higher individually however they are often crushed as a group,” he mentioned. Primarily based on this sport, he clearly is not incorrect.

If Fournier can proceed to provide factors effectively like he did towards the U.S., France may have an opportunity to make some actual noise in Tokyo. Plus, Fournier is ready for unrestricted free company within the NBA over the offseason. It will likely be fascinating to see how his efficiency within the Olympics impacts his market worth, if in any respect.

2. No Finals fatigue for Vacation

Jrue Vacation has had a whirlwind of every week. He helped the Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA title in 50 years on Tuesday, celebrated with the town on Thursday after which flew out to Tokyo to affix Group USA forward of their matchup towards France. Given the truth that Vacation was contemporary off a deep postseason run and did not have a chance to play — or observe — with Group USA, some anticipated coach Gregg Popovich to ease him into motion early on in Olympic play. That wasn’t the case.

In opposition to France, Vacation performed extra minutes (27:52) than anybody else on Group USA, and he additionally scored probably the most factors on the group (18). Vacation was particularly efficient within the fourth quarter of the competition, the place he recorded 12 of his 18 factors:

Sadly for the U.S., Vacation’s manufacturing wasn’t sufficient for them to tug out a win, although it is clear that he might be integral to the group’s success shifting ahead.

The opposite two gamers who principally went straight from the Finals to Tokyo — Khris Middleton and Devin Booker — did not fare fairly in addition to Vacation towards France. Middleton went scoreless in simply 5 minutes of motion, whereas Booker performed 18 minutes however scored simply 4 factors of 1-of-6 taking pictures from the ground. Maybe fatigue performed a much bigger issue for these two than it did for Vacation.

3. Fouls vs. area targets

It was a tough sport throughout for the USA, and that is illustrated by the truth that a number of of the group’s key contributors recorded as many, or extra, private fouls than made area targets towards France:

Devin Booker: 2 fouls, 1 made FG
Draymond Inexperienced: 4 fouls, 1 made FG
Kevin Durant: 5 fouls, 4 made FG
JaVale McGee: 1 foul, 0 made FG
Zach LaVine: 3 fouls, 3 made FG

It is robust to win a sport within the Olympics when almost half of your roster has as many fouls as pictures made. As a group, the USA shot simply 36 % from the ground, in comparison with 47 % from France. In a sport that was determined by seven factors, this made an enormous distinction.

Shifting ahead, the U.S. might want to convert pictures at the next clip with a view to give itself a greater likelihood of pulling out wins. Given the expertise on the group, that should not be too tall of a job.

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