Fournier questions critical unsportsmanlike foul: 'I thought the game was over' / News - Basketnews.com

The French star Evan Fournier thought the game was over before France created one of the most improbable comebacks in EuroBasket history.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

With 12 seconds to play at the end of regulation, Turkish basketball fans have already started booking tickets for the EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinal.

Player of the Game EFF 24 Rudy Gobert Points 20 Accuracy 7-11 Rebounds 17 Assists 2

Turkey was up by two (77-75), and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was just called for an unsportsmanlike foul.

They had Cedi Osman at the free-throw line. He isn't the most reliable free throw shooter, but the Cleveland Cavaliers forward was 8 of 13 in the EuroBasket.

He was 4 of 4 in a do-or-die game vs. France before that play.

"My mind was like: oh, shit," the French star Evan Fournier recalled.

"When we fouled, and that was the weird call, a flagrant foul, I thought the game was over. We were down by two, and they had two free throws and possession," he added.

Osman missed both. On top of that, Turkey failed to inbound the ball. Fournier stole the ball, drew a foul, and later Rudy Gobert saved France with a putback dunk.

France forced the game to overtime and created one of the greatest comebacks to advance to the quarterfinals 87-86.

Ergin Ataman said it was one of the most painful losses in his 26-year career.

Turkish shooter Bugrahan Tuncer, who had 22 points on 6 of 10 3-point shooting, burst into tears after the press conference.

"That's basketball. Not the first or last time that kind of thing happened," Vincent Collet tried to play down the improbable comeback. "We could've had the same. Rudy missed two last free throws too, but they didn't score. Same thing for Osman. He was 4 for 4 before missing the last two free throws," the French coach added.

France will play their 13th quarterfinal at the EuroBasket, the second-best tally for a team behind Spain (15 before 2022).

Although France didn't impress yet in this tournament, Fournier sees good signs of how his team can improve the game.

"I wouldn't say we're struggling. We're not playing our best, for sure. But every game is different," Fournier explained. He had 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

"We have a lot of guys that are not new but on new positions in the team. It's hard to find your role and fit that role. For example, this guy tonight," Fournier looked and showed to Amath M'Baye, who was giving the interview next to him.

"He did a great job tonight coming off the bench," Fournier added. "That's the stuff we expect from our players. Give everything, play their strengths, and play hard."

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