Skip to content

Fournier, Gobert lead as France eliminates Team USA from World Cup

Zhizhao Wu / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Team USA won't win a medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert proved too much for the Americans to handle in their quarterfinal tilt on Wednesday, with the pair combining for 43 points to help France secure an 89-79 win and book a spot in the semifinals.

Fournier led France with 22 points and shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Gobert poured in 21 points to go with 16 rebounds, with seven coming on the offensive glass. The Utah Jazz center also notched a late block on NBA teammate Donovan Mitchell with seconds left to emphatically keep the U.S. at bay.

Mitchell finished with a game-high 29 points for Team USA and was on pace to eclipse Kevin Durant's single-game record of 38 against Lithuania at the 2010 World Championship. However, the rising Jazz star was held scoreless in the final frame.

The loss snapped a streak of 58 straight victories for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. The team's last loss in the tournament came against Greece at the 2006 semifinals.

Les Bleus will now square off against Argentina on Friday, while the U.S., which can't finish higher than fifth place, faces Serbia in a classification game on Thursday.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox