Rudy Gobert Helps France Upset USA Basketball In Tokyo Olympics Opener

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert helped the France upset USA Basketball in the opening contest of Group A play at the Tokyo Olympics.

Team USA and France played their first game of Tokyo 2020 on Sunday, July 25.

Gobert helped the French National Team beat the United States, 83-76.

Alors, c'est toujours de la chance comme en 2019 ? 🥵

Performance monstrueuse des Bleus qui s'offrent le scalp de Team USA en entrée des Jeux Olympiques 🙌#TeamFranceBasket #FRAUSA #Tokyo2020 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/7CvjzDooZB

— Equipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) July 25, 2021

It was USA Basketball’s first loss since the 2004 Olympics and snapped a 25-game winning streak.

After leading at the end of the first two quarters, the USA struggled during the second half and trailed following the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, France closed the game on a 16-2 run after the USA held a 74-67 lead with less than four minutes remaining.

Gobert finished the game with 14 points on 5-6 field goals. He added nine rebounds and one assist.

France closes the game on a 16-2 run to defeat #USABMNT, 83-76 in the Group Stage. #TokyoOlympics

Evan Fournier: 28 PTS
Rudy Gobert: 14 PTS, 9 REB
Jrue Holiday: 18 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/k8vtLGn9cg

— NBA (@NBA) July 25, 2021

Evan Fournier led France with 28 points.

Former Weber State and current USA guard Damian Lillard scored 11 points on 3-9 shooting. Lillard also had three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

USA Basketball was led by Jrue Holiday’s 18 points off the bench.

Final.#Basketball #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/qDLZtikMC7

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 25, 2021

Team USA’s next contest is against Iran on Tuesday, July 27 at 10:40 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on Peacock.

France’s next game is against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, July 27 at 6 a.m. (MDT).