US men’s basketball team loses first Olympic game in 17 years

Team USA’s mens basketball team lost their first Olympic contest since 2004, ESPN reported on Sunday.

The Olympic team fell to France 83-76 in their opening match of Group A, snapping their 25-game winning streak in the summer games.

In the final minutes of the contest, French guard Evan Fournier made a three-pointer to give his side the lead, coming back from an eight-point deficit against Team USA, according to ESPN. 

Evan Fournier go-ahead 3 after the Yabu hustle pic.twitter.com/G8SLeF0XBg

— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 25, 2021

Fournier, who plays for the NBA’s Boston Celtics, led all scorers with 28 points. Fellow French teammate and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert tallied 14 points and nine rebounds as well. 

Team USA basketball players Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum all had porous outings during the contest, with Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, fresh off of winning the NBA Finals, leading Team USA by scoring with 18 points, ESPN reported. 

good god pic.twitter.com/WDuYcB5CBI

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWobUSA) July 25, 2021

Team USA basketball coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after the game the loss was disappointing. 

“When you lose a game, you’re not surprised. You’re disappointed, but I don’t understand the word surprised,” Popovich said. “That sort of disses the French team, so to speak, as if we’re supposed to beat them by 30 or something. That’s a hell of a team.”

The team’s opening round loss is their first such Olympic defeat since 2004’s semifinals contest against Argentina. That loss resulted in the USA finishing with a Bronze medal at the Athens Games, Fox News reported.