Team USA has finally hit its stride. While the Americans looked lackluster in exhibition play and struggled in the early going in Tokyo, Gregg Popovich’s group is playing like champions as they prepare for their gold-medal matchup on Friday night against France.

Team USA opened as 11.5-point favorites at sportsbooks and betting sites versus a France team that earned an outright victory and cover against the Americans just two short weeks ago. Despite that, it’d be an upset of historic proportions if the French were able to pull off the victory - they entered the 2020 Olympic Games with +2600 odds to earn the gold medal, the fifth longest odds.

Olympic Men's Basketball: USA vs France Odds

Odds via DraftKings ➜ and current as of publication. Check out our DraftKings sportsbook review.

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Kevin Durant Leading The Way For Team USA

As the most tenured Olympic athlete on the roster, it’s no surprise that Kevin Durant has led the way for Team USA. He’s averaging a team-best 19 points on 53% shooting and 5.2 rebounds. He’s saved his best for the medal stage, too, exploding for 29 points in a win over Spain before tallying 23 in a laugher over Australia.

Durant scored just 10 points in that loss to France, but the French will see a much different player on Friday night. With respect to Slovenia and Luka Doncic, Team USA touts the best player in this tournament.

France will lean on Gobert, Fournier

If the French want to pull off the upset and earn gold for the first time in the country’s history (they won silver in 2000), they’ll need maximum efforts from their top two players. NBA All-Star Rudy Gobert was a force inside during the first matchup, scoring 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds, and drawing a game-high eight fouls against Team USA’s shaky frontcourt.

If he owns the paint again against Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green, France has a shot. Fellow NBAer Evan Fournier exploded in the first meeting, going for a game-high 28 points on 11 of 22 shooting. All-NBA Defensive Team standout Jrue Holiday should draw the Fournier assignment, and it’s one USA will need.

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USA vs France Pick

Team USA, -12.5

Odds: -105 at DraftKings ➜

Losses to Nigeria and France were absolute head-scratchers, but Team USA has figured it out. When they’re able to get downhill and finish at the rim - which also frees up 3-point shooters - they simply can’t be beat.

Gobert and the solid French defense will be able to protect the rim well enough to hang around, but Durant and Co. will use their depth to pull away in the second half. Even if it doesn’t look like they’ll cover early on, the Americans can rip off some lightning-quick runs to pull ahead by double digits.

We like Team USA to win, cover, and earn a fourth straight gold medal. You can get them at -105 with DraftKings ➜ on your sports betting app.

USA vs France Time, Date And TV

Date & Time: Saturday, 11.30 a.m. Tokyo time (Friday, 10.30 p.m. ET)

TV: NBC