Olympic Games: Team USA was hot against France but retained the basketball title

Saitama, Japan – It wasn’t an easy summer for the US men’s basketball team. Even the gold medal game.

The Olympic era will continue despite everything.

Kevin Durant scored 29 points and the United States won their fourth consecutive gold by beating France 87-82 on Saturday at the Tokyo Olympics.

Durant confirmed his team’s victory with two free throws with only 8.8 seconds left.

Durant became the second player in men’s Olympic basketball history to win three gold medals, after Carmelo Anthony.

“I am very happy for (coach) Greg Popovich, for the players and for the country,” said USA National Basketball Director Jerry Colangelo. It’s a nice way to deduce. “

Jason Tatum added 19 points, while Damian Lillard and Giro Holiday each scored 11 for the Americans.

“I think there is more joy than relief, but there is certainly relief. Expectations were high,” Lillard said.

Yvan Fournier and Rudi Gobert each netted 16 points for France, who now owns four silver medals – all taken after losing in the final to the United States – in discipline.

Gershon Yabusli got 13 points, Nando de Colo contributed offensively with 12 points, while Timothy Leu Caparrot finished the match with 11 points for France.

“They played better,” Fournier remarked.

France closed the lead to 73-70 with 5:42 remaining when Frank Ntelikina hit a three-point layup. The Americans then responded with a 9-2 streak that ended with a three-point shot from Tatum.

From that moment on, only the United States had to finish the job. Their summer started with two pre-season losses and the tournament started with a setback at the hands of France.

The US men’s team won the gold medal for the 16th time in 19 attempts at the Olympics.

For Holiday and Khris Middleton, teammates for the Milwaukee Bucks, this is an entry into a very select group. Before them, only Scottie Pippen (twice), Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving won the NBA title and Olympic gold in the same year.

“It’s definitely a great summer,” Holiday said.

For Popovic, it completes an Olympic journey that began nearly 50 years ago. As a player, he tried to secure a place with the United States for the 1972 Olympics, but without success.

“Being at the Olympics has always been a dream for me,” Popovic explained.

Slovenia and Australia will meet later on Saturday to win the bronze medal.

French women in bronze

The French won the bronze medal after defeating the Serbs (91-76) in the match for third place.

The Blues, who were swept away by Japan the day before in the semi-finals, found the resources, just 17 hours later, to avenge Serbia, which they beat in the European Championship final in June.

The United States, which has won the last six Olympic titles, will face host Japan in the gold match on Sunday.