The French basketball team lost to Australia (78-74) on Sunday in Tokyo for its seventh and last preparation match before the World Cup in Asia (August 25-September 10). The Blues raced in the lead throughout the game before being caught by the “Boomers” 1’30” from the end of the match.
The French had however started on foot thanks to Evan Fournier, on fire and author of 12 points in the first quarter, won 27-19 by his team. Nicolas Batum, who had been spared Thursday against Japan, played again on Sunday but for a relatively short time (13 minutes). The French maintained their lead at half-time (39-31). But the Australians, the world’s third nation in the Fiba ranking, came back strong in the third quarter, thanks in particular to Josh Giddey, the leader of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Blues also multiplied the balls lost during this period: 10, against only 2 for the Australians. The suspense was still total at the end of the third quarter (58-56 for France). Both sides went blow for blow late in the game but it was the Australians who went ahead and were not caught. The France team will fly next week to Jakarta, where it will start the World Cup by facing Canada on Friday, then Latvia (August 27) and Lebanon (August 29).
