Team Canada has earned its first pre-Olympics exhibition victory.
After suffering a tough loss to Team USA, Canada bounced back in a big way to make a statement against France with an 85-73 win.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was simply too much for France to handle, pouring in a game-high 23 points on only 13 shots to go with five rebounds and five assists. He had plenty of help from RJ Barrett, who flashed his scoring potential with 21 points while getting to the free throw line 12 times.
French star Victor Wembanyama missed most of the first quarter after getting into early foul trouble, and he never seemed to get into a rhythm. Dillon Brooks' pestering physicality got to Wembanyama, holding him to just 10 points.
This was an impressive win for a Canada squad that was without star guard Jamal Murray, who took the night off to rest.
If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, highlights, and more from Canada's Olympic exhibition win over France below.
MORE: Ranking Team USA's players at the pre-Olympics midway point
Canada vs. France basketball final score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Canada | 25 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 85 |
| France | 19 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 73 |
Canada vs. France results, highlights from 2024 Olympic men's basketball exhibition game
Final: Canada 85, France 73
5:11 p.m.: Canada held on to defeat France behind 23 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 21 points from RJ Barrett. Guerschon Yabusele's 19 points led France while Rudy Gobert had 12 points and six rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama navigated early foul trouble and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, but Dillon Brooks did his job in frustrating the French superstar.
5:04 p.m.: Guerschon Yabusele buries a four-point play! The former NBA player has a team-high 18 points and four 3-pointers. France trails 81-71 with a minute and a half to go.
5:03 p.m.: RJ Barrett just buried a dagger of a 3-pointer. He has 18 points on the night and his last triple gave Canada an 81-67 lead with 1:34 remaining.
5:00 p.m.: France takes a timeout to talk things over before they make one last push. Canada leads France 78-65 with just under three minutes remaining.
4:55 p.m.: Rudy Gobert gets an and-one to drop (but missed the free throw) to give France a little bit of life. Les Bleus trails Canada 76-63 with 4:16 to play. They're running out of time.
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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