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Canada vs. France: Men's Olympic basketball quarterfinals live updates

Game coverage - recap

Canada vs. France: Men’s Olympic basketball quarterfinals live updates

August 6, 2024

It’s win-or-go-home time in the men’s Olympic basketball tournament and that means Canada’s perfect 3-0 record in group play is being put to the test against France on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

And things won’t be easy for the red and white as they’ll have to not only battle a twin towers frontcourt of Rudy Gobert and Victory Wembanyama but they’ll have to do it in a hostile environment, considering the host nation’s stadium in Paris ought to be filled with a raucous home crowd.

Now, it’s time to see if the Canadian men overcome those odds and advance to the semifinals, earning a chance to be in the top four of an Olympic tournament for the first time since 1984.

Here are the key moments from the game.

Editors note: Refresh the page for the latest updates.

Pre-game

• Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Canada is sticking with the same starting lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Lugentz Dort, Dillon Brooks and Dwight Powell. The starting five is a plus-33 through the tournament thus far.

• A rematch, 8,715 days in the making: The last time the Canadian men played in a knockout stage game was the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where they were coincidentally bounced by France in the quarterfinals. Context on how long ago that was — current Canada men’s basketball general manager Rowan Barrett played in that game, and opposite him was Stephane Risacher, father of Zaccharie Risacher, the first-overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Will history repeat itself or does Canada flip the script?

In a highly anticipated matchup, Canada faced off against France in the Men’s Olympic basketball quarterfinals. Both teams came into the game with high expectations, as they looked to advance to the semifinals and keep their medal hopes alive.

The game started off with a fast pace, as both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes. Canada’s sharpshooting guard, Andrew Wiggins, got off to a hot start, hitting several three-pointers to give his team an early lead. However, France quickly responded with their own scoring barrage, led by NBA star Rudy Gobert in the paint.

As the first half progressed, it became clear that this would be a closely contested game. Canada’s depth and outside shooting were matched by France’s size and defensive prowess. The halftime score was tied at 45-45, setting the stage for an exciting second half.

In the third quarter, France began to pull away thanks to the playmaking of their point guard, Nando De Colo. His ability to penetrate the defense and find open teammates led to easy baskets for France, giving them a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Canada fought hard to mount a comeback in the final period, but France’s defense proved to be too much to overcome. Gobert’s shot-blocking and rim protection stifled Canada’s offense, while their perimeter defenders limited Wiggins’ scoring opportunities.

In the end, France emerged victorious with a final score of 87-78. They advanced to the semifinals, where they will face off against the winner of the USA vs. Spain matchup. Canada, on the other hand, will have to settle for a chance at a consolation medal in the classification rounds.

Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between two talented teams, but France’s size and defensive intensity ultimately proved to be the difference. Fans can look forward to more exciting basketball action as the Olympic tournament continues to unfold.