PARIS: The United States won its fifth consecutive Olympic title in men's basketball on Saturday, holding off a combative France 98-87 to bring its total number of Olympic gold medals to 17.
In a repeat of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the NBA-star-studded US team were once again too strong for France, despite the efforts of sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
France cut a 14-point deficit to three points on Wembanyama's put-back dunk with three minutes and four seconds left, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drained a three-pointer – one of four he made with less than three minutes left – and the U.S. fought relentlessly to the end.
Stephen Curry celebrates with the US flag. (REUTERS)
Curry finished with eight three-pointers – including a rainbow over the leaping Wembanyama – and was the USA's leading scorer with 24 points.
“It just amazes you,” James said of Curry. “When you have him on your side, you just try to make stops and figure out other ways on the other end, but you have to keep finding him and keep getting the ball to him.”
Curry said of his heroics at the end of the game: “I was just trying to calm us down.”
“We just wanted to get a good shot,” Curry said. “It's been a while since we've really had the ball.”
“(Finally) the momentum was on our side. At that point, your mind goes blank. You don't care about the setting or the scenario or anything else. It's just an attempt.”
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each contributed 15 points and James scored 14 points with six rebounds, ten assists, one steal and one block.
For Durant, it was the fourth Olympic gold medal for the U.S. men, a record. James won his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, won his first in his first Olympic appearance.
“It's a huge relief,” Curry said. “It hasn't been easy, but damn, I'm excited, man. This is everything I've wanted and more, so I'm excited.”
Wembanyama played his best offensive game at the Olympics, scoring 26 points. Guerschon Yabusele added 20 points.
France converted only nine of 30 three-point attempts and the USA had a 31-9 lead in fast break points.
In the exciting first half, in which the lead changed hands ten times, both teams were defensively focused.
Wembanyama lunged for a dunk that gave France an 11-10 lead and sent the crowd at the Bercy Arena into ecstasy.
Victor Wembanyama from France in action. (REUTERS)
The Americans were soon back in the lead when Booker converted a layup after a pass behind James' back and a steal by James gave Jayson Tatum the opportunity to dunk.
France trailed by five points after the first quarter, but then took a 25-24 lead thanks to a dunk by Bilal Coulibaly, but the USA continued to benefit from France's missed shots in transition.
James drove through traffic for a layup, drew a foul and flexed his muscles in front of the U.S. bench before making the free throw that put the United States ahead 37-31. They led 49-41 at halftime.
The dream finale attracted a whole host of stars. French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance, as was sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson, a day after she led the US 4×100-meter relay team to the gold medal as the anchor runner.
James signaled his intentions early on by entering the court in gold shoes and scoring the first goal with a dunk.
Curry, who came from behind to score 36 points in the semifinal against Serbia, stepped up a gear in the second half and gave the U.S. its largest lead of the game, 61-47, with a three-pointer early in the third quarter.
France continued to press and was only six points behind at the start of the fourth quarter, but in the end had to watch as the US players, wrapped in flags, celebrated.
A dejected Wembanyama could only hug his teammates, but with the silver medal around his neck he called the experience “incredible” and said he would try to return the favor in Los Angeles in 2028.
“In four years I will aim for gold,” he said.
On Saturday, Serbia won bronze with a dominant 93:83 victory over world champions Germany.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Serbia, which lost to the United States 95-91 in the semifinals.
