Team USA has beaten France by 87-82 to claim their fourth straight basketball gold medal.
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant was the USA’s standout player yet again, scoring 29 points. France threatened an incredible fourth-quarter comeback, but the Americans held their nerve to claim a seventh gold medal out of the last eight on offer.
The final was the second time the two teams faced off in the competition. France beat the Americans in the group stage, which was Team USA’s first Games loss since 2004 in the group stage.
Team USA was shaky throughout the tournament with surprising losses against Nigeria and Australia in warm-up matches and a miraculous quarter-final win against Australia casting doubts over Gregg Popovich-led favorites’ ability to replicate their success in the past Olympics.
It was another troubling start against France in the final as they struggled to deal with France’s Rudy Gobert in defense. Despite holding a slender lead, the defending champions could never really pull away as Nando de Colo made it a three-point game with 10 seconds left.
It was fitting that the final free throws fell to Durant, who made both to put the game beyond France’s reach.
NBA Champions Milwaukee Bucks’ Jure Holiday said, “The first time we played together as a whole roster was France and lost to them (in the group stage), so we just felt like it was only right to meet them in gold and to get our win back.”
Durant was the star of the tournament as the 32-year-old averaged 27 points per game in wins over Australia, Spain, and France as he claimed a third personal gold medal after being part of triumphs in 2012 and 2016.
The Nets star also surpassed Carmelo Anthony as Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in the game against the Czech Republic.
Durant said, “You realize, you know, you finished the job, you get the gold medal, you get the trophy, but when you go through that journey, it’s just incredible to be a part of something so special. I’m bonded to these guys for life.”
