Rudy Gobert helped France rally past the United States in the Tokyo Olympics opener for both teams, while Joe Ingles and Australia prevailed over Nigeria and Miye Oni.
Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert was one of three French players to score in double-figures as France rallied past Team USA 83-76 early Sunday morning in the opening game of men’s basketball group play at the Tokyo Olympics. Evan Fournier, who scored 28 points, sparked a 14-0 French run after the United States led 74-67 with 3:41 to play. It’s the first Olympic basketball loss for the Americans since 2004. Gobert started and nearly had a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds for France. He shot 5-for-6 from the field. Related Former Weber State star Damian Lillard started for Team USA and had 11 points in the loss, though he shot just 3 of 10 from the field and had four turnovers. Jazz wing Joe Ingles also had a good start to the Olympics, starting for Australia and scoring 11 points in their opening win over Nigeria. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and added four rebounds and three assists as Australia pulled away in the fourth quarter for the win. Fellow Jazzman Miye Oni scored two points and had two rebounds and two assists for Nigeria. Utah native Rhyan White finished second in her heat and sixth overall in the 100-meter women’s backstroke qualifications with a time of 59.02. Competing in her first-ever Olympics and representing the USA, the 21-year-old junior — who attends Alabama — is the first-ever Utah born swimmer to make the Olympics.
