Steph Curry’s clutch performance and a rapid American transition game thwarted France’s hopes for a fairytale finish on Saturday night. The U.S. took advantage of French turnovers and missed shots, converting them into fastbreak points, with Curry leading his team with 24 points in a 98-87 victory in the men’s basketball gold medal match.
This win marks the fifth consecutive Olympic gold for the Americans. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each added 15 points, while LeBron James contributed 14 points to the triumph.
France made a late push, narrowing the gap to 82-79 in the final quarter, but Curry took control. He sank four 3-pointers in the last three minutes to secure the American lead. After his decisive shot, Curry taunted the Bercy Arena crowd with his signature “night, night” gesture.
Curry, who claimed his first Olympic gold, expressed his deep satisfaction. “I’ve been blessed,” he told NBC post-game. “This is one of my highest achievements in terms of excitement and relief.” The NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point shooting was confident in his late-game shots. “I knew if I got to my spot, I could make it,” he said.
The U.S. transition attack was a decisive factor, with a commanding 31-9 advantage in fastbreak points. Curry’s victory also places him in an elite group of nine players who have earned an NBA championship, regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and Olympic gold medal, joining legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant.
In the bronze medal game earlier, Nikola Jokic’s triple-double performance led Serbia to a 93-83 victory over Germany. Jokic scored 19 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and provided 11 assists, helping Serbia recover from a tough semifinal loss to the U.S.