France frustrates Doncic and will play the Olympic basketball final against the USA

Batum's block to Prepelic that avoided the basket and allowed France to win against Slovenia.CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / AFP

A block from Batum to Prepelic in the last second ended the epic of Doncic and Slovenia.

The Slovenian team's first defeat since Doncic debuted as an international player in 2017 will prevent him from reaching the final of the Olympics.

France, thanks to the Batum plug, won by 90-89 and will play tomorrow (4.30) for the gold medal against the United States, which overwhelmed Australia by 97-78.

The extraordinary story of Doncic and the Slovenian team he qualified for the Games for the first time in their history cannot end with the ending he dreamed of.

France managed to overcome the damage caused by the game of the 22-year-old guard in an extraordinary game, very close and with enormous tension between the players.

More information

• Luka Doncic revolutionizes the Games with an anthological performance

• USA loses its first Olympic game to France since 2004

Doncic finished with a triple-double: 16 points, 10 rebounds and 18 assists.

A huge performance, accompanied by Mike Tobey, with 23 points and 8 rebounds.

France dominated the rebound and was very successful in the triples, with 12 hits on 25 shots. Rudy Gobert took over the inside of the zone, collected 16 rebounds and was the first supplier of balls for the outside players. De Colo added 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Fournier, 23 points and 5 rebounds.

France hit the gas in the third quarter (60-52). He took advantage and Doncic began to lose his temper, with constant complaints to the referees for considering that they were not pointing out the fouls he received. He also kept some cross talk with the French bench. Blazic and Dimec, they reduced the difference to nothing. Tobey tied at 78 first and 85 shortly after. The tension led to technical fouls for Blazic and Vincent Collet, the French coach. A triple by Luwawu Cabarrot made it 90-85 with one minute remaining. Prepelic scored a free kick, missed the second, but took a free kick from the French in attack and took advantage of an assist from Doncic to put it 90-89 on the scoreboard. 33 seconds to go. De Colo missed a pitch with 22 seconds to go.Doncic captured the defensive rebound and the defensive action ensued with Prepelic's basket attempt that Batum blocked.

France will play an Olympic final for the third time in its history. He lost the previous two, both against the United States. They were in London 1948 and Sydney 2000, the latter 85-79, with players like Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd and Ray Allen on the American team and with Rigaudeau, Gadou, Foirest, Bilba and Risacher on the French. The United States, aiming for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold, lost to France in the first match of the group stage 83-76. The American team paid for their poor preparation that day, with casualties such as Kevin Love due to injury and Bradley Beal due to covid, and three important players such as Booker, Holiday and Middleton who had just joined the team after having competed in the final of the NBA.

The game of the national team led by Gregg Popovich was improving and also the results. They overwhelmed Australia in the semi-final by 97-78 although they had a bad drink during the first half in which they came to dominate by 15 points. But before the break the Americans, led by Kevin Durant, equalized and in the second half swept. The partial of the third quarter, 32-10, was definitive. Kevin Durant stood out with 23 points and 9 rebounds, and Devin Booker, with 20 points.

Collet, the French coach, explained how they tried to face the game against Slovenia: “The game plan was not to sacrifice everything for Doncic, we wanted to defend him from one side, and not in the way that NBA teams usually do, defend him. to the left accepting his backstep shots.

I have observed that when it goes to the right it is deeper ”.

The reflection was prior to his considerations on the final that will face the United States: "We know they are favorites in the final, but I hope we can play against them with the same strength and energy."

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