When the going got tough, Evan Fournier got his bearings going for France.
Fournier scored 10 of his total output in the final four minutes and the Les Bleus turned back Canada, 82-73, in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball quarterfinals at the Bercy Arena on Wednesday, August 7 (Philippine time).
His biggest field goal came in the 55-second mark when he swished a three-pointer from way out as the shotclock wound down for a 76-66 lead.
RJ Barrett responded with a booming triple in the ensuing play, but the Canadians could only go as close as seven points from there before Fournier put the finishing touches on the wire-to-wire win with a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining.
Fournier finished with 15 points for France, which set up a semifinal clash against reigning FIBA World Cup champion Germany.
But before Fournier's late-game heroics, it was Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier who showed the way for France in front of a raucous crowd.
Yabusele led all French scorers with 22 points, including the tough deuce with 6:20 to go for a 65-55 advantage. He also added two free throws to keep Canada at bay towards the end.
Cordinier shot four triples on his way to 20 points, three rebounds, and three steals on a night Victor Wembanyama also grabbed 12 rebounds on top of seven points, five assists, and three steals.
After being down by as many as 19 points, Canada refused to fold and slowly chipped away at the French lead. Before they knew it, the deficit was down to five thanks to a 5-0 spurt capped by an RJ Barrett breakaway flush, 65-60, with 4:09 to go.
But whenever Canada threatened to flip the script, the home team just had an answer.
That was when Fournier took over, delivering the finishing blows from which Canada could not recover.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced Canada with 27 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block in a sterling all-around effort that ultimately went for naught.
Barrett added 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists while Lu Dort chimed in eight points.
