Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier made sure to give France the lead with 78-76 with just over three minutes left of the match.
And when Rudy Gobert then gave the team the lead with four points, France forced the United States to a timeout.
That didn't help. The US missed two penalty throws immediately after that and in a bout a while later, Kemba Walker was brutally blocked by Gobert under the basket and flew in the slopes. Incidentally, Gobert is rated as the NBA's best defender for two consecutive years.
Walker and US stars did not rise after that and were eliminated from the Basketball World Cup. The defeat ended the ten-point margin.
France to semi-final against Argentina. In addition, this was the United States worst listing in a World Cup since 2002.