In an intense showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA secured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball, defeating France 98-87. The game, held at the Bercy Arena, was a nail-biter, with the French team pushing the Americans to their limits.
The USA was led by the stellar performance of Stephen Curry, who scored 24 points, including a crucial series of three-pointers in the fourth quarter that helped secure the win. Curry’s hot shooting, combined with key plays from LeBron James, who contributed 14 points and seven assists, proved too much for the French team to overcome.
France, playing on home soil, was driven by an outstanding effort from Victor Wembanyama, who tallied 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele also added 19 points, keeping France within striking distance throughout the game. Despite their efforts, the French team couldn’t keep up with the USA’s efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, where the Americans shot 50% compared to France’s 30%.
The game was closely contested, with the USA leading by just six points at the end of the third quarter. However, Curry’s late-game heroics, including back-to-back threes and strong defensive plays by Kevin Durant, sealed the victory for Team USA.
Steph Curry is unreal. USA wins its 17th gold medal. #USAvsFrance this was the dagger to seal the game in the Olympics. HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE pic.twitter.com/jetMzF9ijA
— Jake (@badrocket1) August 10, 2024
This win marks another historic achievement for the USA, further solidifying their dominance in Olympic basketball, while France will take pride in their strong performance against a powerhouse team.
STEPH CURRY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? 🤯#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/5AUFyj3Zsg
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 10, 2024
Quick Match facts
- The United States have won their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics
- They made 18 three-pointers in the Final, the most by any team in a final of an Olympic tournament. It was their 10th game with 15+ three-pointers at the Olympics, at least seven games more than any other team, ever.
- France made just 59 percent of their free throws, the lowest percentage from the line in a Final since FR Yugoslavia also shot 59 percent in 1996
- Victor Wembanyama had his first game with 20+ points at the Olympics, and with Yabusele, he created the first pair of teammates to get 20+ in the Final since Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro in 2012
- Steph Curry made eight three-pointers, the most for any player in the final of an Olympic tournament
- Curry is only the third player with 20+ points in a single game at the Olympics without making a single free throw or a two-pointer (also Wang Shipeng vs Australia in 2012, and Damian Lillard vs Iran in 2021)
- Kevin Durant is the first player with four gold medals at the Olympics, with 518 points he is the only US player with more than 400 points in this competition and ranks 8th all-time now. – FIBA.Basketball
