France beat United States 83-76 to hand the American’s their first defeat in men’s Basketball at the Olympics since 2004 in Group A opener
The United States lost their first Olympic men’s basketball match since 2004 as they went down 83-76 to France in their opening group match of the Tokyo Games on Sunday night.
The Americans, who have previously won gold three times at the Olympics arrived in Japan short of star power after a number of withdrawals, injuries and Covid-19 issues, and it showed as they made a sloppy start to the competition.
Boston Celtics’ Evan Fournier scored 28 points for France, who dominated the third quarter of the Group A contest and then survived a fourth-quarter rally to claim a famous victory.
The American players cannot hide their disappointment after they lost to France on Sunday
Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum (pictured) scored vital three pointers against the Americans
The Americans began the fourth quarter on a 13-1 run, leading 69-63 when Jrue Holiday made a lay-up, but the French came storming back thanks to big three-pointers from Nicolas Batum and Fournier respectively.
Fournier put the French back in front, 76-74, with 57 seconds left and they had the better of a scrappy finish as the Americans squandered several chances inside the final minute to hand victory to France.
It was a first Olympic defeat for the United States men’s team since the semi-finals of the Athens Games, when they were beaten 89-81 by eventual champions Argentina.
Gregg Popovich’s team must look to repair some of the damage when they face Iran in their second game on Wednesday.
France players celebrate their 83-76 victory over the much fancied American team