Canada eliminated by France in Olympic men's basketball quarterfinals

A slow start proved costly for Canada's men's basketball team Tuesday.

So costly it ended the squad's quest for the podium at the Paris Olympics.

After falling behind host France in the first quarter, the Canadians couldn't catch up and ultimately dropped an 82-73 decision in the quarterfinals.

"They came out the aggressors and they punched us in the mouth," said guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who posted a game-high 27 points for a Canadian squad that hit just 25 of 66 shots from the floor.

"The start put us in the hole. I think we won the rest of the game after the start, but when you start like that it's hard to play against any team," he added.

WATCH l France eliminates Canada from men's basketball tournament:

Canadian men's basketball team eliminated from Paris 2024 with quarterfinal loss to France

4 months ago

Duration 2:04

France defeats Canada 82-73 and advances to the men's basketball semifinals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Canada trailed from the first minute of play after Guerschon Yabusele hit a three that drew an exuberant reaction from the enthusiastic home crowd. Moments later, Isaia Cordinier added a dunk that brought fans to their feet.

By the end of the first quarter, the French were up 23-10.

Asked what Canada could have done differently at the beginning of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander was at a loss for words.

"I have no clue," said the Oklahoma City Thunder star. "We all wanted to win. Obviously it's no one person, we're in this together. We don't know, but we'll learn from it."

Slow start

By early in the third, France had boosted the advantage to 19 points with Cordinier's fourth three-pointer of the game.

The shooting guard chalked up 20 points on the night, while Yabusele led the French with 22 points and five rebounds.

Canada started to claw its way back into the game late in the third quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander registered nine points across the frame, including two on a play where he stripped Andrew Albicy of the ball and streaked down the court on a fast break.

R.J. Barrett brought Canada within five points midway through the fourth with a thundering dunk.

'Nobody can say that we didn't fight'

"We've just got to be better," said Canada's head coach Jordi Fernandez. "I appreciate my players' effort. We shot free throws to cut it to one possession. Nobody can say that we didn't fight. It wasn't perfect, but I will always support my players."

For France, Tuesday's victory was a bit of revenge after Canada thrashed France 95-65 in FIBA World Cup play last August.

French fans showed their appreciation by cheering and jeering and drumming and jumping all game.

"The crowd was amazing. People that were here, they gave us everything," Fournier said.

The Detroit Pistons shooting guard noted, though, that a sizable section of seats — apparently reserved for VIPs — sat empty for the entire game, calling it a "[expletive] shame."

Hostile environment

Fernandez said he tried his best to prepare his players for the hostile environment.

France will face Germany in the semifinals on Thursday. The other semifinal will feature Serbia and the United States.

Tuesday's result marked Canada's lone loss of the tournament after it went 3-0 in preliminary round play.

The Canadian team was hoping to win a medal in the sport for the first time since earning silver in 1936.

No one thinks they're going home as they head into a quarterfinal matchup, Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"But if you don't earn it, that's what happens. You lose," he said. "That's what happened tonight."

Germany, Serbia, U.S. advance to semifinals

Nikola Jokic had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Serbia surged back to beat Australia 95-90 in overtime to reach the semifinals.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 for points for Serbia, which rallied from a 24-point first-half deficit to set up a meeting with the U.S. 

Serbia is aiming for its first Olympic medal since the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where it took silver. That was the first Olympics for a then 21-year-old Jokic.

Germany also advanced, as Franz Wagner scored 18 points as his team overcame a sluggish start to beat Greece 76-63 and advance to the semifinals for the first time.

Dennis Schroder added 13 points and eight assists for the reigning World Cup champions, who will face the winner of France and Canada on Thursday. Germany's previous best finish at the Olympics was seventh place in 1992.

Germany is unbeaten at the Paris Games after going 3-0 in the group stage.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points for Greece, which was denied its first semifinals berth in Antetokounmpo's first Olympics appearance.

Meanwhile, the high-powered U.S. team punched its semifinal ticket with a 122-87 victory over Brazil, with Devin Booker leading a balanced front with 18 points in an efficient effort by the Americans, who will clash with Serbia in the semifinals.