PARIS – The global 5×5 men’s basketball torch remains in the grasp of the Americans.
Perhaps the grip is loosening. But it still belongs to the U.S.
The U.S. and its loaded roster filled with MVPs, All-Stars and NBA champions proved that once again, defeating France 98-87 for the Olympic gold medal Saturday at Bercy Arena.
Sorry France and Victor Wembanyama. Sorry Serbia and Nikola Jokic. You too, Germany and Franz Wagner and Canada and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s not your time for gold. Not yet. Maybe at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Maybe.
In what amounted to an Olympic road game for the U.S. in front of partisan French crowd, the U.S. relied on its biggest stars and 3-point shooting. LeBron James continued his stellar Olympics play with 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds; Steph Curry dropped 24 – all coming on eight made 3s; and Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each scored 15 points.
The U.S. made 18-of-36 pointers, outscoring France 54-27 from that distance, and the U.S. owned a 31-9 edge in fastbreak points.
Team USA led for most of the game. France cut the deficit to two possessions a couple of times in the second half, including 82-79 with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter. A Curry 3 followed by two Durant free throws increased the U.S. edge to 87-79 with 2:22 to play.
Curry made four huge 3s in the final three minutes, including one that gave the U.S. a 96-87 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
It is the fifth consecutive gold medal for the U.S. in men’s basketball. The team cruised through group play 3-0, handled Brazil in the quarterfinals, and needed a memorable comeback from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Serbia in the semifinals.
The U.S. led the tournament in points per game, field-goal percentage, 3-point shooting percentage and assists per game, and had the second-best field-goal percentage allowed. Its combination of depth, offense and defense overwhelmed opponents.
The U.S. pushed its Olympic record to 144-5 overall and is 36-1 since 2004.
Durant became the first U.S. men’s basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals, James collected his third gold and first since last playing for Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics, and Curry won his first gold at his first Olympics.
France earned its second consecutive silver in the Olympics.
Victor Wembanyama played his best game of the tournament, posting 26 points and seven rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele, who was instrumental on getting France to the final game, had 20 points.
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