Evan Fournier leads France over Nikola Vuceivc, Montenegro

Evan Fournier had a big game as France continues its preparations for the FIBA World Cup. Not even his friend Nikola Vucevic could stop him.

France fought their way back into the game, leading by four midway through the fourth quarter. France’s depth was starting to wear down Montenegro and the team rallied to take the lead. Montenegro was still in the fight.

Nikola Vucevic collected the ball on the wing. He had his struggles in the game but was moving well and helping keep the team moving. Montenegro looked like a dangerous team.

Evan Fournier was there waiting, completing a strong game himself that helped France erase that deficit in the fourth quarter.

He caught his good friend on the Orlando Magic unaware and knocked the ball away. His steal sparked a fastbreak that found the ball to Axel Toupane for a 3-pointer as France put Montenegro away for an 80-72 win in Lyon during preparations for the FIBA World Cup.

Evan Fournier can take the bragging rights over his teammate, scoring 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting, adding five assists. Nikola Vucevic scored a team-high 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting with 10 rebounds in the losing effort.

There was a friendly interview with the two on TV in France after the game. And it certainly seemed like there was a good spirit between the two.

But the trash-talking has already begun:

It was a friendly at the end of the day and so the result of the game matters less. Both players got their points in and seemed to do what their teams needed them to do.

Vucevic displayed in those highlights a lot of mobility off the bounce. He seemed willing to attack Rudy Gobert aggressively off the dribble. That mobility was good to see.

But it also looked like he was playing it as if it were an exhibition game defensively. Vucevic did not seem particularly engaged defensively or willing to challenge players at the rim. He was not making the defensive plays he knows he can make.

So Vucevic’s defensive returns were not encouraging, but certainly understandable within the context. Ultimately this game does not matter and European coaches like to hide some of their best stuff for the tournament. No reason to risk Vucevic getting injured at this point of the preseason.

What Montenegro showed throughout the game was crisp ball movement. That certainly plays into Vucevic’s game and he should be good as a high-post fulcrum for the team. Montenegro should be a tougher out than initially thought.

But this game really showed a lot of what Evan Fournier can do.

There is no denying Fournier has a lot of pressure on him to perform in this tournament. He had a difficult year last season as he struggled with his 3-point shot. But he improved in just about every other way, averaging a career-high in assists and improving his defensive play.

The one thing that has been fairly consistent throughout these early exhibition games is Fournier’s passing. He has consistently gotten four or five assists in these games. That is encouraging for sure.

This game was more encouraging too because Fournier scored in all the ways he will score with the Magic. He came flying off picks and took set up dribbles to get to his mid-range shot. He attacked the basket off the dribble and finished strong. He got out in transition.

And, yes, he played some solid defense. Including that big steal on Vucevic late in the game.

France undoubtedly struggled throughout this game. It took some offensive spark off the bench to help France push ahead. But they had a huge surge in the fourth quarter,  outscoring Montenegro by 16 in the final quarter, to get the win.

France will still have work to do to get themselves ready for the World Cup and compete at the level they certainly think they should. Fournier will undoubtedly play a big role in this team and if they want to have success.

France and Montenegro will be back in action Friday as part of the four-team tournament. France will play Brazil and Montenegro will play Argentina.

DaQuan Jeffries at Team U.S.A. camp

Back in the United States, Team U.S.A. is getting ready for an exhibition game against Spain on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif., before they head to Australia before the tournament. The game tonight is a big one as Spain is one of the teams many believe can compete to win the World Cup, especially with the U.S. seemingly weaker.

Friday’s game will be a big test and a bit of a check to see where they are at. Although Spain will probably not play its strongest lineups in an attempt to conceal their strategy before the actual tournament begins. For the U.S., this game will still be about finding a rhythm together.

The goal is to continue getting better.

To help with that, the national team called in a new Select Team filled with G-League players and players who helped the U.S. qualify for the World Cup itself. That group included Magic guard DaQuan Jeffries.

Jeffries earned his way into a training camp invite with a strong run through Summer League. And with Chuma Okeke still unsigned — and perhaps taking a redshirt year — there is a chance DaQuan Jeffries can make the roster this year.

For now, he remains on an Exhibit 10 contract.

Like last week’s group that included Jonathan Isaac, this group got its licks in on the national team too. Famously now, the Select Team this week beat Team U.S.A. 36-17 in a scrimmage.

It is not clear how Jeffries did. But it is good to see him participating in these practices and getting some high-level play before joining the team for camp.