Team USA Defeats France to Clinch Gold in Olympic Men’s Basketball

Two years ago, Stephen Curry was dreaming about this moment. After clinching his fourth NBA championship, all that remained for him was an Olympic gold medal. On Saturday night, he made sure that dream became a reality.

In a thrilling finale at the Paris Games, the U.S. men’s basketball team triumphed once again, defeating France 98-87. This victory marked the fifth consecutive gold medal for the U.S. and the 17th out of 20 appearances in Olympic history.

Curry had a standout performance, scoring 24 points and making four crucial three-pointers in the final 2:43 of the game. His shooting was pivotal, especially the one that effectively sealed the victory with just 1:19 left on the clock, extending the U.S. lead to 93-84. As he sprinted down the court with excitement, he celebrated by shaking his jersey, prominently displaying “USA” to the world.

But Curry wasn’t done yet. He added another three-pointer about 30 seconds from the end, punctuated with his signature “go to sleep” gesture, as he cradled his face in his hands. It was fitting for a game where he would not only lead his team to victory but also leave an indelible mark on Olympic basketball history.

Alongside Curry, Kevin Durant shone brightly, contributing 15 points. This victory made him the first player in Olympic basketball history to earn four gold medals. Devin Booker matched his performance with another 15 points, while LeBron James, donning eye-catching metallic gold shoes, added 14 points to his tally as he achieved his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.

For the second consecutive Olympics, France found itself watching the U.S. team celebrate on their home court. The French squad had suffered a narrow defeat to the Americans in Tokyo three years ago and found themselves once again fighting valiantly until the end. However, it was Curry’s explosive finishing that made the difference in this tightly contested match.

Victor Wembanyama, making his Olympic final debut, was a standout for France, scoring 26 points. After the game, he could be seen covering his face with a towel as the celebrations from Team USA echoed around the arena. Guerschon Yabusele also contributed to France’s effort with 20 points.

The U.S. led by as many as 14 points early in the third quarter, with hopes of pulling away comfortably. However, their offense faltered, allowing France to chip away at the lead. Evan Fournier’s three-pointer with 3:05 left in the third cut the deficit to just 65-59, igniting a 12-4 run by the hosts.

As the match progressed, the U.S. faced a critical moment when miscommunication between Anthony Edwards and Durant resulted in a turnover. Nando De Colo capitalized on this error, scoring just before the buzzer, which left the U.S. clinging to a 72-66 lead as they approached the final quarter.

Despite France’s late surge, they never got closer than three points, thanks primarily to Curry’s timely shooting that ultimately kept the Americans ahead.

With this victory, Stephen Curry solidifies his place among the legends of Olympic basketball, contributing to an impressive legacy for Team USA.

Source: CBS News