The United States won their fifth straight Olympic men’s basketball crown on Saturday, holding off a battling France 98-87 to take their tally of Olympic golds to 17.
In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the US team stacked with NBA stars once again proved too much for France’s sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and his teammates.
France sliced a 14-point deficit to three with 3min 04sec to play, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drilled a three-pointer and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant nailed two free throws and the United States relentlessly powered to the finish.
Curry finished with eight three-pointers and led the US scoring with 24 points. Durant and Devin Booker added 15 apiece and James scored 14 with six rebounds, 10 assists a steal and a block. For Durant it was a record fourth Olympic gold. James earned his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, claimed his first in his first Olympic appearance. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball, securing gold medals in eight of the past nine Games, with the sole exception being Athens in 2004. The US women’s team, known for their even greater dominance, will aim to continue this winning streak as they compete for gold in their final match today.
France secured its second consecutive silver medal at the Olympics. Victor Wembanyama delivered his standout performance of the tournament, contributing 26 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Guerschon Yabusele tallied 20 points.