Utah Jazz: Diaw, Gobert & France Fall Just Short vs. USA

By Ryan Aston | Aug 14, 2016

Aug 14, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; France center Rudy Gobert (16) and United States center Demarcus Cousins (12) battle for the ball during the men's preliminary round in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

USA Basketball survived a strong effort from Team France and Utah Jazz big men Boris Diaw and Rudy Gobert to close out group play at the Olympic Games.

After their wake-up call against Serbia earlier this week, the United States men’s national basketball team faced what may have been the squad’s strongest test to date on Sunday. Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and the Americans closed out group play against a French team laden with NBA stars, including Utah Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Boris Diaw.

Although the Americans led for the majority of the game and pushed their lead to as many as 16 points late in the third quarter, Les Bleus kept it close throughout and gave Team USA all they could handle in the game’s closing moments. Ultimately, the Americans survived, edging out France 100-97.

Team USA made a concerted effort to move the ball and get more players involved offensively and were successful in stretches. Durant was hot early and finished the game a perfect 6-for-6 from the field for 17 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

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However, it was Klay Thompson who was the biggest beneficiary of coach Mike Krzyzewski’s game plan, having a breakout performance to lead the way for the US. After averaging less than three points per game through the first four games of Olympic competition, Thompson came alive against France, leading all scorers with 30 points and hitting on 7-of-13 from three-point range.

Despite a more cohesive offensive attack, Team USA still suffered multiple defensive lapses, however, allowing France to beat them with back cuts and ball movement.

Nevertheless, it was a strong effort from the French side, who fought hard for 40 minutes and outscored the Americans by nine in the fourth quarter. More impressive was the fact that they did so despite the absence of Tony Parker, who was held out of the game after injuring his toe earlier in the competition at Rio.

The French had decided that giving the San Antonio Spurs point guard and NBA All-Star an extra day of rest so he can be fresh for the quarterfinals was more important than winning their final game in the preliminary round.

Regardless of the game’s hotly contested nature, it was a quiet night for Les Bleus’ Jazz contingent. Gobert finished with six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of play. He struggled to receive the ball in the paint offensively and, aside from a couple of dunks and some high screens, had little impact on that side of the floor.

Diaw, meanwhile, displayed the same kind of passing that has gotten Jazz fans excited throughout the tournament, dishing out seven assists. He also nabbed two steals. However, the big man finished with just five points on 2-of-5 shooting in the game.

France’s real heroes were Nando De Colo and Thomas Heurtel, who finished with a combined 36 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds.

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On the other side, Anthony, America’s all-time leading scorer, was quiet early and struggled at times, but hit key three-point shots down the stretch. He finished the game with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Kyrie Irving added 10 points and 12 assists.

With the win, the Americans clinched the top seed in Group A and will face the yet-to-be-determined fourth-place team from Group B in the quarterfinals. France will finish as the third seed, behind Australia, and take on the Group B runners-up.