France wows while US dazzles on way to men's semi-finals

PARIS : The French basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday, riding a wave of national pride into the Olympic men's semi-finals while the U.S. turned on the style to stay on track for a fifth straight gold.

The U.S. rolled to a 122-87 win over Brazil without ever needing to go all out, but still served up just enough razzle dazzle to keep the capacity crowd buzzing in an effort that was as much about entertainment as sport.

The routine victory sets up an intriguing final four meeting with Serbia, who advanced with an overtime win over Australia.

The contest will be a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games gold medal final and will feature LeBron James, a four-time NBA most valuable player leading the U.S., against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

France will face Germany in Thursday's other semi-final.

"We understand we're seizing opportunity," said James. "The only game that's guaranteed is the next one now.

"That's the only thing we focus on and focus on Serbia," he said, adding: "The main goal is, and the only main goal is, for us to win gold. That's all I care about."

The U.S. and Brazil meeting generated none of the electricity that filled the Bercy Arena hours earlier, when France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.

All last week the arena had been home for the gymnastics competition, but not even Simone Biles was able to thrill the packed house the way Victor Wembanyama and his teammates did.

Feeding off the energy crackling through a seething Bercy, France gave the home crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each