US superstars beat France to win Olympic gold

The United States maintained their grip connected nan Olympic men's hoops title by overwhelming hosts France to triumph a 5th successive golden badge successful Paris.

A star-studded American squad packed pinch NBA icons, led by LeBron James and Steph Curry, demonstrated their value to triumph 98-87 amid a febrile ambiance astatine Bercy Arena.

The occurrence saw nan existent harvest emulate nan 1992 'Dream Team' which they person been regularly compared to.

In beforehand of 16,000 boisterous fans, France refused to rotation complete and moved backmost wrong 3 points astatine 82-79 pinch nan timepiece ticking down successful nan last quarter.

But Curry, arsenic he truthful regularly does, instantly landed a three-pointer for 85-79 to easiness nan unit and swished 3 much arsenic nan Americans raced away.

Ultimately, Les Bleus did not person capable to put nan Americans into an unwanted bracket of failure.

Pretty overmuch each US Olympic squad since nan Barcelona Games has been compared to nan broadside led by Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

Six teams person won Olympic golden - but nary person ever travel adjacent to being revered for illustration this Gen Z ensemble cast.

Now, aft securing triumph successful Paris, a group featuring 4 NBA regular play MVP winners - James, Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid - 11 NBA All-Stars and 7 NBA champions has to beryllium mentioned successful nan aforesaid breath.

Curry was nan focal constituent of nan American celebrations erstwhile nan last hooter went, hugged by his team-mates and draped successful a Stars and Stripes emblem by James.

On nan penultimate nighttime of nan Games, it was nan Bercy Arena which felt for illustration nan hottest summons successful town.

France, led by NBA rookie of nan twelvemonth Victor Wembanyama, against nan American All Stars.

The magnitude of nan juncture was indicated by nan calibre of athletes - past and coming - courtside.

The hosts were represented by shot icon Thierry Henry and NBA fable Tony Parker, on pinch swimmer Leon Marchand and judoka Teddy Riner.

On nan American broadside of celeb statement was footballer Megan Rapinoe, tv characteristic Jimmy Fallon and Scottie Pippen, portion of nan legendary 1992 roster which nan existent harvest were trying to emulate.

Not everyone was truthful lucky, however. Fans without tickets waited extracurricular holding homemade signs pleading for personification to thief them out.

If those extracurricular did negociate to subordinate nan 16,000 different fans inside, it was good worthy nan gamble.

The high-octane ambiance successful nan stands continued connected nan tribunal arsenic nan stars came retired to play.

France began good pinch their talisman Wembanyama - nan 7ft 2in prodigy - scoring 7 points successful a accelerated and furious start.

But nan Americans quickly raised their level and responded strongly.

James illustrated their increasing assurance pinch a behind-the-back assistance which Devin Booker put distant earlier a brace of three-pointers from Anthony Edwards secured a 20-15 advantage astatine nan extremity of nan first quarter.

France rallied astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd play to move a five-point shortage into a lead, but Team USA stepped connected nan gas.

A six-point spread opened up astatine 37-31 erstwhile James trampled done French defenders successful trademark fashion, pinch Curry and Jrue Holiday landing from down nan arc to put them 8 points up astatine half-time.

The hosts had an uphill task successful beforehand of them to dethrone nan kings of nan Olympic court.

Continued to beryllium backed by vociferous support, they kept plugging distant to enactment wrong reach.

The 3rd 4th closed astatine 72-66 and, though they refused to springiness up successful nan last period, their hold for a maiden Olympic title goes on.