Utah Jazz in the Olympics: Rudy Gobert scores 14 as France upsets Team USA

France’s Rudy Gobert drives past United States’ Kevin Durant, left, during a men’s basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. France won 83-76. Utah Jazz big man Gobert scored 14 points in the win. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press

Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert was one of three French players to score in double-figures as France rallied past Team USA 83-76 early Sunday morning in the opening game of men’s basketball group play at the Tokyo Olympics.

Evan Fournier, who scored 28 points, sparked a 14-0 French run after the United States led 74-67 with 3:41 to play.

It’s the first Olympic basketball loss for the Americans since 2004.

Gobert started and nearly had a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds for France. He shot 5-for-6 from the field.

Former Weber State star Damian Lillard started for Team USA and had 11 points in the loss, though he shot just 3 of 10 from the field and had four turnovers.

Australia 84, Nigeria 67

Jazz wing Joe Ingles also had a good start to the Olympics, starting for Australia and scoring 11 points in their opening win over Nigeria. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and added four rebounds and three assists as Australia pulled away in the fourth quarter for the win.

Fellow Jazzman Miye Oni scored two points and had two rebounds and two assists for Nigeria.

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