Olympic Games In Pictures – France Stun Team USA Basketball Superstars

Leigh Copson

Editor

Last updated: Mon 26 Jul 2021 09:52

Leigh Copson 26 Jul 2021

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France beat United States 83-76 in men’s Olympic basketball
French went on late 16-2 run to come from behind to win
NBA ace Evan Fournier sank crucial three-pointer for France

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Olympics Team USA vs France

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USA's Damian Lillard (L) tries to pass the past France's Guerschon Yabusele during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Rudy Gobert #27 of Team France dunks against Team United States of America during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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USA's Devin Booker (R) fights for the ball with France's Guerschon Yabusele during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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USA's coah Gregg Popovich shouts from the sideline during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France loses possesion of the ball against Team United States of America during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Jayson Tatum #10 of Team United States dunks against Team France during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States runs up the court during the first half of the games against France in Men's Preliminary Round Group B action on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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France's Rudy Gobert goes for the basket during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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France's Evan Fournier (R) fights for the ball with USA's Draymond Jamal Green (L) during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France drives to the basket against Zachary Lavine #5 of Team United States during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States looks on against Team France during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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France's Rudy Gobert scores a basket in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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USA's Zachary Lavine scores a basket in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Vincent Poirier #17 of Team France pulls down a rebound over Bam Adebayo #13 of Team United States during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France drives to the basket for a shot over Draymond Green #14 of Team United States during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Zachary Lavine #5 of Team United States drives past Rudy Gobert #27 of Team France for a layup during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Moustapha Fall #93 of Team France dunks the ball over JaVale McGee #11 of Team United States during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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French players celebrate after their win in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)

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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 and JaVale McGee #11 of Team United States walk off the court after the United States lost to France in the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)

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France stunned an all-star American line-up 83-76 to make a winning start in the men’s basketball at the Olympics.

The United States arrived in Tokyo boasting an all-star roster of some of the NBA’s finest, including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Damian Lillard.

The bookies made them odds-on favourites to leave with gold and they remain odds-on at 2/5 with bet365 despite the loss.

However, France have a couple of NBA stars of their own and they came up big in a huge win that makes them 10/1 dark horses for the Olympic title.

Boston Celtics’ Evan Fournier racked up 28 points that included a crucial three-pointer late on that all but sealed the win.

Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert chipped in with 14 and was a dominant force in the paint for them.

The pair helped erase a seven-point deficit with just 210 seconds to go, as France embarked on a 16-2 run to seal the victory.

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USA's Damian Lillard (L) tries to pass the past France's Guerschon Yabusele during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Rudy Gobert #27 of Team France dunks against Team United States of America during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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USA's Devin Booker (R) fights for the ball with France's Guerschon Yabusele during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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USA's coah Gregg Popovich shouts from the sideline during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France loses possesion of the ball against Team United States of America during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Jayson Tatum #10 of Team United States dunks against Team France during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States runs up the court during the first half of the games against France in Men's Preliminary Round Group B action on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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France's Rudy Gobert goes for the basket during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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France's Evan Fournier (R) fights for the ball with USA's Draymond Jamal Green (L) during the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France drives to the basket against Zachary Lavine #5 of Team United States during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States looks on against Team France during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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France's Rudy Gobert scores a basket in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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USA's Zachary Lavine scores a basket in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Vincent Poirier #17 of Team France pulls down a rebound over Bam Adebayo #13 of Team United States during the first half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Evan Fournier #10 of Team France drives to the basket for a shot over Draymond Green #14 of Team United States during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Zachary Lavine #5 of Team United States drives past Rudy Gobert #27 of Team France for a layup during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Moustapha Fall #93 of Team France dunks the ball over JaVale McGee #11 of Team United States during the second half of the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)
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French players celebrate after their win in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between France and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 25, 2021. (Getty Images)
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SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Kevin Durant #7 and JaVale McGee #11 of Team United States walk off the court after the United States lost to France in the Men's Preliminary Round Group B game on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Getty Images)