They scared each other until the end. At the end of a suspenseful match, the French basketball players beat the Italians (84-75), Tuesday, August 3, in the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament to qualify for their first semi-final since 2000. Surprise guests after their qualification for the Games at the expense of Serbia of Nikola Jokic – recently crowned best player of the season in the NBA -, the Italians had a very solid first round, with two victories against Germany (92-82) and Nigeria (80 -71), and a narrow loss to Australia (83-86). The French were therefore warned.
Vincent Collet’s men, however, did not make it easy. Despite a good shooting success in the first period (17/29 including 3/7 three points), the Blues have rarely been ahead in scoring. They even counted up to seven points behind at the start of the second quarter (20-27).
In particular, the very many losses of ball – ten in twenty minutes – that the Italians did not however succeed in making profitable with only seven points registered in cons-attack. The defensive returns of Nicolas Batum, author of two important counters almost in quick succession, allowed the Blues not to see the Italians soar to the score and even to pass them in front (43-42) just before the siren, thanks to a basket from Evan Fournier, brand new New York Knicks player.
Up to fourteen points ahead
Upon returning from the locker room, the Blues accelerated, taking up to fourteen points in advance (62-48), under the impetus of an exceptional Nicolas Batum. While he had thought to stop, in 2020, after an almost blank season, the French captain carried his team defensively (fourteen rebounds, three interceptions and two blocks), but also and more unusually, offensively with fifteen points, making him the third best scorer behind Rudy Gobert (22 points) and Evan Fournier (21 points).
But while the Blues approached the last act with ten points ahead (64-54), the Italians quickly returned to the game with four quick points from Danilo Gallinari and Simone Fontecchio (64-58). The same Fontecchio then brought his own to three short lengths seven minutes from the end (66-63), then tied after three free throws, one minute later (66-66).
A crucial rebound from Batum allowed the Blues to secure their place in the semi-finals.
There followed a three-point shooting competition, which France came out on top, thanks to Nicolas Batum and Thomas Heurtel (76-73 two minutes from the end). While a suspenseful final was expected, Rudy Gobert allowed his family to breathe a little: first after two successful free throws (78-73), then on a dunk after being well found by Heurtel (80-75 ), thirty-seven seconds from the end. Two new free throws from Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, then a crucial rebound from Batum, always him, allowed the Blues to secure their place in the semi-finals.
They will meet there, Thursday at 1 p.m. (Paris time), Slovenia, the reigning European champion. Against the French, will stand in particular the new star of world basketball, Luka Doncic (22), who has never lost a match with his national team in 17 games.
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