France eliminated the United States from the FIBA World Cup on Wednesday with an 89-79 quarterfinal victory at Dongguan Basketball Center in Dongguan, China.
The loss ended Team USA's 58-game international winning streak in non-exhibition games involving NBA players. It also ensured that there will be a new FIBA World Cup champion for the first time since Spain won the tournament in 2006.
The Americans were dominated on the glass, with France out-rebounding them by a 44-28 margin. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was front and center in that regard, as he finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier also had a big game for the French with 22 points.
Team USA's lone offensive star was Gobert's Jazz teammate, Donovan Mitchell, who registered a game-high 29 points. Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker, meanwhile, was held to 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting.
With the win, France will move on to face Argentina in the semifinals Friday, with the winner of that game earning the right to play for the FIBA World Cup.
Things looked bleak for the Americans in the early going, as France led by as many as eight in the second quarter thanks to Gobert and Fournier, as well as supplemental production from former San Antonio Spurs guard Nando De Colo.
Team USA will finish off the podium at the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 2002, while France is perhaps now the favorite to win the event for the first time in its history.
Australia faces off against Spain in the Semi-Finals of the 2019 FIBA World Cup on Friday as the Boomers look to stay undefeated and reach their first-ever final in a major international tournament.
For as good as Mills as been for Australia, Ricky Rubio has been nearly as good for Spain. Not only has he been Spain's leading scorer, he also ranks among the tournament leaders in assists.
