USA beats France for Olympic gold thanks to late Curry barrage

PARIS (AP) — Stephen Curry was already thinking about it two years ago, after winning his fourth NBA title with the Golden State Warriors. All he had left to do was win Olympic gold.

And at the final moment, he made sure that medal would be his.

The United States is back on top of international men’s basketball after Curry scored 24 points to lead the way to a 98-87 victory over France in the final of the Paris Games on Saturday night. It’s the fifth consecutive gold medal for the United States — and the 17th in 20 all-time appearances for Americans at these games.

Curry made four three-pointers in the next 2 minutes, 43 seconds, including the game-winning one with 1 minute, 19 seconds left. The United States led 93-84, and he leapt onto the court with a shout, shaking his jersey so everyone could see the word “USA” emblazoned on the front.

As if that wasn’t enough, another one followed about 30 seconds from the end – with the “go to sleep” move where he puts his hands to the side of his face.

Good night. Game over. Gold has won. Once again.

“For me to get a gold medal is crazy, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to have this experience,” Curry said.

Kevin Durant, the first four-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s basketball, scored 15 points for the Americans, as did Devin Booker. And LeBron James, wearing self-explanatory metallic gold shoes, scored 14 points for the United States, winning his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.

For the second consecutive time at the Olympics, the French had to watch the Americans wave American flags in celebration after the title game. The French lost to the United States 87-82 in Tokyo three years ago, and this time the game came down to the final minutes.

That is, until Curry took over.

“I think we’re probably the only team in the world that the fans are ashamed of if they win a silver medal,” said U.S. coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State coach whose run with the United States now ends with a 21-3 record and an Olympic gold medal (11-0 this summer). “That’s the pressure we face. But our players, and you saw Steph, they love the pressure. They love the atmosphere and they’ve been fantastic.”

Victor Wembanyama, in his first Olympic final, shone for France, scoring 26 points — the second-most points ever scored against the United States in a gold medal game, one behind Drazen Dalipagic’s 27 points for Yugoslavia in 1976.

Wembanyama then covered his face with a towel as the Americans celebrated the goal. Guerschon Yabusele scored 20 points for the hosts.

“It’s a disappointment, for sure, because we thought we could do it,” said French coach Vincent Collet. “But we have to admit that they are better. We are very close… When they make fantastic shots, it makes the difference.”

The United States led 14-0 early in the third quarter and appeared poised to take over. But the offense quickly cooled off, and when Evan Fournier hit a three-pointer with 3:05 left in the quarter, the lead was cut to 65-59, a 12-4 run for the hosts.

With a chance to take a 10-plus point lead heading into the fourth quarter, a big American blunder gave France new momentum. Anthony Edwards and Durant crossed signals on a pass that led to a turnover, Nando De Colo scored before the buzzer and the American lead was down to 72-66 heading into the final 10 minutes.

They got as close as three points. But no closer, thanks to Curry. They scored four three-pointers in 2 minutes and 12 seconds, and they immediately entered Olympic legend.

“A big shot that put us up six. That settled it,” Curry said. “And then the rhythm, the avalanche happened, and luckily the other three scored. It was an unbelievable moment. I’ve been fortunate enough to play basketball at a high level for a long time. It’s a very exciting moment and a sense of relief, to get to the finish line.”

It was the eighth time in Olympic history — and Sunday’s women’s final between the United States and France will mark the ninth — that the home team has played for basketball gold.

The home teams are now 5-3 in such games, 2-1 on the men’s side. The Americans won in 1984 and 1996; the Soviets won in 1980, while the Australians lost to the Americans in 2000 and the Japanese also lost to the Americans at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

For James, it was one more title in the endless list of his legacy. For Durant, it was a historic four-time gold medal winner. For Booker, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo, it was a second gold medal. For Jrue Holiday, it was a second gold medal, matching his wife, soccer great Lauren Cheney Holiday, in the family’s tally. For Derrick White, Tyrese Haliburton, Joel Embiid and Anthony Edwards, it was their first Olympic title.

And for Curry, it took a while. The Olympics had never been on his schedule until now. The Americans couldn’t have been happier to have him there for this edition.

“It’s exactly what I wanted them to be,” Curry said. “And more.”

He compared it to a Game 7 on the road, which it was. He’s had tremendous success in those moments: a 50-point outburst to lead Golden State past Sacramento in 2023, and a 27-point, nine-rebound, 10-assist game to win a one-sided game in Houston in 2018.

And now, this.

“It was one of the best games of his career,” Kerr said. “He made some incredible shots. But in those circumstances, away in Paris against France for a gold medal, it’s a fairy tale. But that’s what Steph does. He likes to be in the storybooks.”