THE USA men’s basketball team on Saturday won its fifth straight Olympic gold medal, defeating a spirited French team 98-87.
Behind Stephen Curry’s 24 points, the Americans finally put away France in the final minute after a back-and-forth game that thrilled the fans at Paris’ Bercy Arena.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Americans had seen a 14-point lead shrink to six. That lead narrowed still in the fourth quarter, with the French getting it down to three at one point with only minutes to play.
“We just kept our composure,” LeBron James said after the game. “We have been in some tight games throughout the preliminary games, and we had a tight game against Serbia so we knew we were going to get everybody’s biggest punch, so it was all about staying composed and willing our way to victory.”
And it was Curry who took over. With four massive, dagger threes in the final minutes, the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history capped off his first ever Olympics with a vintage performance that had the French team reeling.
It was a disappointing end to a terrific tournament for the host nation, which had defeated Canada and Germany en route to the final. The French fans at these Olympics have been incredible throughout in rooting for their home athletes, but the unique atmosphere of a French basketball game combined with the usual fervent support made for an electric Bercy Arena through much of Saturday night’s game.
Even in the final minutes as Curry put their team away, the French fans reacted with a mixture of shock, awe, frustration and heartbreak. The Golden State Warriors star simply would not be denied, and the French will take solace in the fact that it took Curry going to his highest highs to defeat them.
The game started off on fire with both teams trading the lead back and forth, the game flying from one end to the court to the other. Neither team was willing to back down – the Americans from the raucous crowd, the French from the incredible group of talent opposite them – and it made for a tight contest throughout the first half.
The French took the lead for the final time in the second quarter on a 8-0 run, but Devin Booker – quietly one of the best players on this American team throughout the whole tournament – hit a three to reestablish the lead. Team USA would not trail again.
Source: CNN
