Canada vs. France live score, updates, highlights from 2024 Olympic men’s basketball exhibition game

By | July 19, 2024
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Canada Basketball continues its pre-Olympics exhibition schedule with a pivotal matchup against France on Friday.

Canada has only played one tune-up game so far, falling 86-72 in a tough battle with Team USA in Las Vegas. A few days later, the team traveled to Blois, France, to continue its training camp in preparation for the Paris Olympics.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray will look to bounce back from a quiet opening exhibition against the United States, but France isn’t any easier as an opponent. Les Bleus are coming off of a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and have only gotten better, adding phenom forward Victor Wembanyama to their roster.

Canada’s frontcourt will have its hands full with Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, who put Dwight Powell and Kelly Olynyk to the test.

The Sporting News has you covered with live updates, highlights and more from Canada’s Olympic exhibition showdown with France below.

MORE: Ranking Team USA’s players at the pre-Olympics midway point

Canada vs. France basketball score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Canada 25 19 20    
France 19 21 18    

Canada vs. France live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympic men’s basketball exhibition game

Fourth quarter

4:49 p.m.: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just been too good. He buries a timely stepback 3-ball to put Canada back up by 10, 71-61, with eight minutes remaining in the game. SGA is up to 21 points on the night.

End of third quarter: Canada 64, France 58

4:40 p.m.: Guerschon Yabusele buries a massive 3-pointer to beat the third-quarter buzzer. The triple brings France within six points when it was in danger of letting this one slip away heading into the fourth.

4:35 p.m.: Kelly Olynyk! The Canadian big man had a transition layup and then followed that with a quick 3-pointer to extend Canada’s lead to 60-51 in the final minutes of the third quarter.

4:31 p.m.: RJ Barrett is starting to make his presence felt by attacking the rim and drawing fouls. He’s up to 16 points (8-10 FT) to give Canada a 55-51 lead with 2:08 to play in the quarter.

4:20 p.m.: And now Dillon Brooks has picked up his second and third fouls early in the third quarter. As Victor Wembanyama’s primary defender that could spell trouble for Canada, but he remains on the floor.

4:19 p.m.: Dillon Brooks is making Victor Wembanyama work for every bucket but Wemby keeps finding a way to score. He knocks down another tough baseline jumper over Brooks to give France its first lead since the first quarter, 45-44.

Halftime: Canada 44, France 40

4:01 p.m.: We have a ballgame in Blois. Canada takes a four-point lead into the half behind a surgical 13 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s looking unstoppable off the bounce, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line with one 3-pointer.

Victor Wembanyama made a loud impact in the second quarter after sitting the majority of the first in foul trouble. He had eight points with a few highlight-reel jumpers to bring France back into the contest. Veteran guard Nando de Colo is still France’s leading scorer with nine points.

3:49 p.m.: VICTOR WEMBANYAMA. He follows up a baseline fadeaway with an and-one 3-pointer over Dwight Powell! Wembanyama missed the free throw, though. France trails Canada 39-33 with three minutes to play in the half.

3:47 p.m.: Victor Wembanyama hits a tough baseline fadeaway over Dillon Brooks. To be that big and that skilled…

3:46 p.m.: Every time France cuts into Canada’s lead, Canada extends it back to a comfortable distance. Dillon Brooks knocks down another 3 off quick ball movement from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett. Canada leads 36-28 with 4:50 to play in the half.

3:42 p.m.: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets Rudy Gobert on a filthy hesitation move for a layup.

3:39 p.m.: Victor Wembanyama is back in the game and immediately dishes an assist off the dribble to Nando De Colo for an easy layup.

End of first quarter: Canada 25, France 19

3:34 p.m.: Andrew Nembhard and Kelly Olynyk get back-to-back buckets for Canada to end the half, putting their team in front 25-19. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s seven points lead all scorers while Guerschon Yabusele and Nando De Colo’s five points apiece lead the way for France.

Victor Wembanyama only played one minute and 42 seconds in the first quarter due to foul trouble.

3:32 p.m.: Bilal Coulibaly gets the and-one to drop! France has fought its way back in this, trailing 21-19 with under a minute to play in the first frame.

3:22 p.m.: Dillon Brooks buries a 3-pointer to cap off a 13-2 run and force a France timeout. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has seven quick points to put Canada out in front, 15-6, midway through the first quarter.

3:12 p.m.: It only took 45 seconds for something significant to happen. Victor Wembanyama has already picked up two fouls on Canada’s first offensive possession.

3:11 p.m.: Rudy Gobert cruises his way to an easy layup after Victor Wembanyama won the opening tip. France is on the board with a 2-0 lead.

Pregame

3:10 p.m.: Canada will start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett and Dwight Powell.

3:06 p.m.: France will start Frank Ntilikina, Isaia Cordinier, Evan Fournier, Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.

2:55 p.m.: France will also be without Nic Batum due to an illness, per the broadcast.

2:50 p.m.: Canada announced that Jamal Murray (rest) will not be available for the exhibition showdown against France.

2:45 p.m.: Led by Evan Fournier, Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert… here comes France!

2:10 p.m.: This is your reminder that fans in the United States will be able to stream Canada vs. France in the NBA App!

What channel is Canada vs. France on today?

  • Start time: 3:10 p.m. ET 
  • TV channel (CA): CBC Gem & CBCSports.ca

The Canada Olympic men’s basketball exhibition game against France will be broadcast on CBC Gem from Blois, France.

Canada Basketball 2024 Olympics schedule

Canada opens its Olympic journey against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greek National Team. They then take on Australia before closing group play against Spain. 

Date Opponent Time (ET)
July 27 Greece 3 p.m.
July 30 Australia 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 2 Spain 11:15 a.m.

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