Devin Booker scores first Olympic points in Team USA’s loss to France

Phoenix Suns starting shooting guard Devin Booker finished with four points, three assists, two rebounds, one steal and two turnovers in 18 minutes in Team USA’s 83-76 loss to France in its group play match on Sunday morning at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Booker, who arrived in Tokyo, Japan, fewer than 48 hours ago after the Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals, scored his first points of his Olympic career with 7:51 left in the second quarter, hitting a long 2-pointer over France shooting guard Nando de Colo.

It was Booker’s only field goal of the game, as he missed his other five attempts. He made two free throws in the fourth quarter to give Team USA a 74-67 lead with 3:19 remaining before France went on a 14-0 run to regain an advantage that would seal the game.

In its loss, Team USA was led by Milwaukee Bucks starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who had 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and a turnover. Brooklyn Nets small forward Kevin Durant was plagued by foul trouble throughout the game, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting in 20 minutes.

It was the Americans’ first loss in the Olympics since Aug. 27, 2004, when they lost to eventual gold-medal champion Argentina in the semifinals of the knockout stage.

With its defeat, Team USA will next return to the court on Tuesday, when it faces Iran at 9:40 p.m. PT.

Here’s a recap of some of Booker’s moments from the game.