EuroBasket: France win in pain against Turkey in extra time

The harder it is, the better it goes!

France beat Turkey (87-86) in the round of 16 of EuroBasket this Saturday afternoon.

A completely crazy match with the Blues on the verge of drowning a few seconds from the end of regulation time.

But finally France will face Serbia or Italy in the quarter-finals next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Yet France had returned to their game very well, dominating the debates for a majority of the first period with solidity and confidence.

Turkey, carried by a very good Cedi Osman, gave themselves a solid awakening two minutes from the break thanks to a much better skill in shooting.

Rudy Gobert's and-one (20 points, 17 rebounds) converted on the line dampened the Turkish return to a minimum.

The Blues were never led in the first act, taking a lead of 16 pts in the middle of the second quarter (31-15).

Eight minutes without scoring

At the start of the second period, the Turks clearly regained the psychological advantage over France by picking up the score (49-49).

The Blues were too rough, hesitant in their offensive decisions, symbol of a big lack of communication.

Turkey took the opportunity to inflict a 19-0 run on the French thanks to a 6/10 from far from Tuncer (49-57).

The Blues chained the forced individual possessions, without circulation of the ball, remaining even eight minutes without scoring.

In the final quarter, France got better though and started with a 7-0 run but the Turks continued to use their outside address to stay ahead and maintain a small lead (66-69).

While Cedi Osman had to shoot two free throws after an unsportsmanlike 77-75 in favor of Turkey 11 seconds from the end and the situation seemed hopeless for the Blues, the Turk missed both before losing the ball on the throw-in immediately afterwards.

A small miracle.

On the next possession, Evan Fournier missed his drive but Gobert rode into the racket to put the putback and equalize (77-77).

With two seconds on the clock, the Turks didn't have time to try a good shot and the game went into overtime.

In the last decisive minutes, France and Turkey responded effectively.

While Gobert missed his two LFs to fold the game (87-86), Terry Tarpey intercepted the ball in the hands of the Turks during the last possession, thus sealing the French victory.