The 2024 Olympic Games were held in Paris, where, as in the previous edition in Tokyo, the United States again faced France in the final, with the Americans winning (87-98), thanks mainly to Curry’s explosive finish, with four three-pointers in the last three minutes

In the semifinals the United States suffered the unspeakable to overcome Serbia, winning (95-91) and after coming back from a 17-point deficit, with a superlative Curry with 36 points, and a solid LeBron James, with a triple-double including 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. In the other semifinal, France won a hard-fought game against Germany (73-69). It was a game with unequal dominance, the first half was German, but the second half was local, enough for the narrow French victory.

In the final the United States were ahead for almost the entire game, managing a maximum lead of fourteen points, but France tightened and came within three minutes to the end. Until just at that moment Curry pulled out the gun to seal the fifth consecutive gold for the USA.

The United States stood atop the podium, narrowly avoiding a possible upset by the hosts. An unforgettable tournament deserved a final to match. In front of a packed and deafening Bercy Arena, the United States won its 17th Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball.

France fought to the end, never giving up even when the Americans led by 14 points, and gave their fans hope for a miracle.

But LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest of Team USA’s stars had other plans. The game ended 98-87, leaving France with another silver medal, just like at the 2020 Olympics.

The first half was electrifying, with a total of 10 lead changes in the first 15 minutes. However, the United States took control of the game in the second half of the second quarter, building a 10-point lead, thanks to Devin Booker’s 13 points.

France was no longer behind thanks to the performances of Victor Wembanyama and Guerschon Yabusele. The 20-year-old giant scored 13 points in the first half, surpassing his own marks in the Quarterfinals (7 points) and Semifinal (11 points), while Yabusele rocked the stadium with the dunk of the tournament, leaping over LeBron James just before halftime.

But that play only served to ignite James even more in the second half. He found Steph Curry twice, leaving him wide open for three-pointers that extended the lead to 61-47 just three minutes into the game after the break.

Despite this, buoyed by a classic FIBA performance from Evan Fournier, France managed to keep the excitement going before the final ten minutes. Fournier strung together seven straight points, and Nando De Colo scored at the buzzer, cutting the deficit to just six points (72-66) from the home side’s perspective with ten minutes to play.

The game was a give-and-take until the last three minutes. When Wembanyama brought France to within three points with three minutes to play, Steph Curry decided it was time to seal the game, as only he knows how.

He scored not one, not two, not three, but four decisive three-pointers in the final 180 seconds of the Olympics, each more spectacular than the last, extending the lead to 96-87 in the final minute, silencing the French fans and unleashing euphoria among the American supporters in the Bercy Arena stands.

Standing and applauding, Mr. Curry. The basketball world was once again stunned by the shooting touch of the 36-year-old, who scored 60 points in the final two games of the tournament. Curry finished with 24 points, making 8 of 12 attempts from the three-point line.

LeBron James shined with 14 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. Also in double digits were Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, both with 15 points.

To beat this team, it would take a perfect shooting day, and France was far from that, hitting just 9 of 30 attempts from the three-point line. By comparison, the United States was 9-of-20 in the first half and finished 18-of-36.

The United States remains the world power, at least as far as the Olympic Games are concerned. They assembled a team of mammoth talent for Paris, with everyone united by a single goal: to win the gold medal again.

They’ve done it, and coach Steve Kerr can start planning for the next phase of American basketball, with the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympics as the next big events on the horizon. Kevin Durant has become the first man in history with four Olympic gold medals.

As for France, they gave it their all on the court and have a true superstar in 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama. In his first final, he had 26 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as only Guerschon Yabusele managed to keep up with him, contributing 20 points in the game.

United States 98
*James – 14p, 10r, 6a
*Curry – 24p, 5a, 2br
*Booker – 15p, 6r, 3a
*Durant – 15p, 4r, 4a
*Embiid – 4p, 3r, 2a
Holiday – 6p, 4a, 1r
Edwards – 8p, 1r, 1br
Tatum – 2p, 3r, 1br
Adebayo – 2p, 1r
Davis – 8p, 9r, 4t
White –
Haliburton –

France 87
*Ntilikina – 0p, 1r, 1a
*Cordinier – 0p, 1a, 1br
*Batum – 5p, 8r, 4a
*Yabusele – 20p, 2r, 2br
*Wembanyama – 26p, 7r, 2a
De Colo – 12p, 3a, 2r
Fournier – 8p, 3r, 2a
Coulibaly – 6p, 1r, 1a
Lessort – 5p, 3r, 2a
Gobert – 2p, 3r, 1a
Strazel – 3p, 3a
Albicy – 0p, 1a