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The United States Men's Olympic basketball team opens its quest for a gold medal on Sunday morning as they battle France in Pool A competition. In an Olympics filled with tape delayed competitions, USA basketball will be televised live at 6:30 a.m. PDT on NBC Sports Network.
USA has never lost to France in Olympic competition, winning all four games, but the two countries haven't faced one another since Team USA beat France 85-75 in the gold medal game of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs is the marquee player for France, ranked No. 12 internationally by FIBA. But Parker is joined by other NBA countrymen Nicholas Batum, Boris Diaw, Kevin Seraphin, and Rony Turiaf.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will be joined in the starting backcourt by point guard Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers. Team USA was led in scoring during its exhibition series by starting forwards LeBron James (18.6 points per game) and Kevin Durant (17.6 ppg).
Team USA is 15-1 all-time in its Olympic opener, with the only loss coming to Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. After facing France on Sunday, their Pool A schedule consists of Tunisia (Tuesday), Nigeria (Thursday), Lithuania (Saturday), and Argentina (August 6).
France did not qualify for the Olympics in 2008 or 2004.
For more news and information on the 2012 London Olympics, be sure to read SB Nation's Olympic Hub.
