Even if Team USA did not show its best face since the beginning of this World Cup in China by offering sluggish basketball, and even if the squad was less prestigious than announced, beating the Americans in an international competition remained an exploit for the French Team. A mountain to climb.
After a start to the match in the form of an observation round where the French team relies on Rudy Gobert and the aggressiveness of Frank Ntilikina and Andrew Albicy, the Blues begin to take the lead. The Americans struggle to exist without space in attack. Jaylen Brown and especially Donovan Mitchell make differences, but it is small. Result: by dominating on the rebound, France leads 45-39 at the break.
The response from Gregg Popovich's troops was not immediate. After the break, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum scored and the Blues took a ten-point lead. But, despite this lead, they began to lose their edge. Donovan Mitchell, Team USA's best player in this match (29 points), put on a show.
Frank Ntilikina's Final Point
The dynamics of the match reversed, France wanted a low-paced and defensive encounter, the Americans would like to run and swallow up the spaces as soon as possible. With their individual talent, they have the wind at their backs and pass in front as we enter the final straight.
Will Rudy Gobert and company crack or come back? Frank Ntilikina provides the answer. The leader takes his responsibilities with 3-pointers, Evan Fournier (22 points) seconds him and then serves Rudy Gobert (21 points, 16 rebounds) under the circle. The Blues have found energy again, the defense is compact and all that's missing is to finish.
It was Frank Ntilikina who did it again, with a winning basket just under the 24-second mark!
The French team only had to finish, Team USA making their job easier by missing a lot of free throws in these final minutes. Nando De Colo, however, did not tremble and the French won 89-79 against an American team that had nevertheless been undefeated in official competition since 2006. The Blues would repeat the feat in 2021, in Tokyo, by inflicting on the Americans their first defeat at the Olympic Games since 2004.
But Team USA will take double revenge in the final.first in 2021then in 2024 in Paris. At the finish, two more gold medals for Kevin Durant and his teammates, and two silver medals for France.
