France vs USA
August 6, 2021 10:30 pm EDT
The Line: USA -12.5
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France and USA meet Friday night in the 2020 Olympics Basketball Gold Medal Game at the Saitama Super Arena. France is undefeated in these Olympics and hopes to win its first ever gold medal. USA looks for a fourth straight gold medal and has lost the gold medal game just once, which came in 1972.
France is 5-0 in these games and is coming off a one-point victory over Slovenia. In the winning effort, France shot 41.3 percent from the field and 48 percent from three. Nando De Colo led France with 25 points and seven rebounds while Evan Fournier had 23 points and five rebounds. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was the third double-digit scorer and Rudy Gobert grabbed 16 rebounds. Defensively, France allowed 45.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent shooting from three. France went winless in exhibition play and is now the only undefeated team left in the field. France’s latest effort proved this club can get things done under pressure. Regardless of what happens in this game, France will bring home its third ever medal in basketball and the first since 2000.
USA has won four straight games and is coming off a win over Australia. In the winning effort, USA shot 51.4 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three. Kevin Durant led USA with 23 points and nine rebounds while Devin Booker had 20 points and three rebounds. Jrue Holiday was the third double-digit scorer and Khris Middleton grabbed one rebound. Defensively, USA allowed 41 percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent shooting from three. Team USA bounced back nicely in the second half and each of its last four victories have been decided by double digits. It’s not always pretty with the Americans and they can look sluggish at times, but they have another gear they can find and quickly erase deficits.
Team USA has won three of the last five games against France, but those two losses have come in the last two meetings. France beat Team USA a few weeks ago in an exhibition game. USA hasn’t beaten France since the 2016 Olympics.
It’s hard to overlook France at this point, as it’s proved all the critics wrong and just beat arguably the hottest team in the field. There’s value with the points. However, Team USA has found its footing and has shown over these last four games it’s capable of reaching another gear to pull away. France beating USA in an exhibition a couple weeks ago could also be good for the Americans. I need more points to consider France.
USA covers and wins a fourth straight gold medal.
