The United States won its fifth straight Olympic basketball crown on Saturday, beating struggling France 98-87 to increase its Olympic gold medal haul to 17.
In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics finals three years ago, LeBron James and an all-star American team once again proved too much for French NBA Rookie of the Year sensation Victor Wembanyam and his teammates.
France cut a 14-point deficit to three with 3 minutes, 04 seconds left in the game, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry made a 3-pointer and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant made two free throws as the United States relentlessly drove to the finish line.
Curry finished with eight 3-pointers and led the US in scoring with 24 points.
Durant and Devin Booker added 15 apiece and James scored 14 with six rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block.
It was a record fourth Olympic gold for Durant. James earned his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, earned his first in his first Olympic appearance.
