US faces France for women’s basketball gold Sunday
The U.S. faces France in the women’s basketball final at the Olympics on Sunday. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m. CEST/9:30 a.m. EDT.
Photos, photos and more photos
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
After the America’s national anthem, players posed for photos.
There was a lot of posing for a lot of photographers. Group shots, individual shots.
James shooed a video cameraman aside so he Curry, and Durant could get a photo together.
Curry sings anthem after first Olympic title
While most of his U.S. teammates stood stoically while the “Star-Spangled Banner” played, Curry sang along with his first Olympic gold medal hanging around his neck.
Fans boo Embiid — again — as he gets gold
French fans got one more chance to boo Joel Embiid, and they took advantage of it.
The announcement of Embiid’s name as he was receiving his gold medal with the U.S. was followed by a chorus of boos from the crowd. He put his arms in the air to acknowledge the reaction.
Teammates egged on the crowd from the podium.
French players, fans sing anthem anyway
France’s players and fans in the stands sang their country’ national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” while and after the silver medals were being handed out.
The U.S. anthem is set to follow for the gold-medal winners.
Medal ceremony is underway
The players are back on the floor. The U.S. team is waving to the fans behind them and pumping their fists, all smiles as they wait for their gold.
Retired NBA great Pau Gasol, now a member of the IOC, is giving out the medals.
Wembanyama’s 1st Olympics ends in tears and a silver medal
Victor Wembanyama’s first Olympics didn’t end with gold.
But he put the U.S. — and the rest of the international basketball community for that matter — on notice that he has arrived. And he is only going to get better.
The French star finished with a game-high 26 points and seven rebounds in a 98-87 loss to the U.S. in the final.
▶ Read more about Wemby putting his stamp on the Paris Games
Hugs all around after US gold
Emotion consumed Bercy Arena in the aftermath of the United States’ 98-87 victory over France.
Stephen Curry, whose 3-point flurry in the final minutes helped seal the Americans’ fifth consecutive gold medal, danced with teammates. He then stepped over to hug U.S. coach Steve Kerr.
Kevin Durant went to hug former Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green, who was seated courtside.
Kerr offered a hug to Scottie Pippen, a former Chicago Bulls teammate.
A few French fans have left the building — but not many with the medal ceremony still to come.
Kerr: Curry and the US thrive under pressure
After coaching the U.S. to gold, Steve Kerr praised his team for handling big expectations and Stephen Curry for raising his game when it mattered most.
“I think we might be the only team in the world whose fans are ashamed of them if they get a silver medal,” Kerr said. “That’s the pressure that we face. But our players, and you saw Steph, they love the pressure. They appreciate this atmosphere and they were fantastic.”
“It’s right up there with all of the greatest games of his career. The shot-making was just incredible. But under the circumstances, on the road, in Paris, against France for a gold medal, this is storybook stuff. But that’s what Steph does. He likes to be in storybooks.”
Durant becomes a four-time Olympic champion
Kevin Durant is now the first men’s basketball player with four Olympic titles. He was also on the U.S. gold medal-winning teams in 2012, ’16 and ’21.
Curry’s late barrage seals another US Olympic men’s basketball title
Stephen Curry made four 3-pointers in the final 2:43, including the one that just sealed the win with 1:19 remaining.
It put the U.S. up 93-84 and he skipped down the court letting out a yell, shaking his jersey so everyone could see the “USA” across the front.
If that wasn’t enough, one more followed with about 30 seconds left — with the “go to sleep” move where he puts his hands on the side of his face.
Good night. Game over. Gold won. Again.
▶ Read more about Curry’s finish
US beats France again, women go for double gold next
The U.S. is now 4-0 against France when Olympic gold is on the line. The U.S. previously beat France for gold in 1948, 2000 and 2021.
The American women will try to finish off a finals sweep of France on Sunday with the U.S. trying to win an unprecedented eighth consecutive basketball gold medal.
No team, male or female, has won eight consecutive gold medals in Olympic history in a sport.
U.S. men’s basketball team wins fifth straight gold medal at Paris Olympics, defeats host France
Make it a golden double for the U.S. over France in men’s basketball.
Stephen Curry led the Americans with 24 points, and the U.S. beat France 98-87 for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Curry puts the US on his back
Steph Curry has the Americans’ last nine points from the field — three 3-pointers that along with a couple of Kevin Durant free throws has the U.S. up 93-84 with 56.8 seconds left.
Curry 3 quiets the crowd
After France cut the deficit to 82-79 with just under three minutes left, Stephen Curry hit a 3-pointer off a behind-the-back pass from LeBron James.
Curry motioned his hands to the ground after the shot that silenced the crowd.
France cuts US lead to five
The U.S. lead is down to five at 82-77 with 3:32 left in the final against France.
Durant 100 and counting
Kevin Durant has crossed the century mark for points in gold medal games.
The four-time Olympian had 30 points in each of his first two Olympic finals, in London and Rio. The No. 1 scorer in American Olympic history scored 29 in Tokyo and now has 13 against France, getting his 100th, 101st and 102nd point on a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock was running out.
France cuts the US lead to 72-66
France is not letting the U.S. run away to another Olympic gold medal.
The U.S. led by as much as 14 in the third quarter, only to see that dwindle away. The Americans are up 72-66 going into the fourth quarter, 10 minutes away from taking this rematch of the 2021 Tokyo Games final.
The Americans had a couple bad turnovers in the final minutes. Anthony Davis threw the ball out of bounds on one.
But Kevin Durant’s block of Nando de Colo’s buzzer-beater was called goaltending, cutting the U.S. lead to six. Officials reviewed the play during the break and upheld the call.
Bercy Arena is rocking with fans on their feet.
Wemby loses a shoe
Wembanyama lost his left shoe nearly midway through the third quarter.
France’s 7-foot-4 star didn’t have a blowout. His foot got caught up with Embiid as they went up the court.
Play stopped, Wembanyama collected his shoe, went courtside and put it back on. He made sure to lace it up tight.
IN PHOTOS: Celebrities spotted at Bercy Arena
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Curry catches fire from 3
The U.S. outscored France 12-6 to open the third quarter and take its biggest lead of the game.
Stephen Curry has hit a trio of 3s, the last with 6:58 left putting the U.S. up 61-47. He shimmied his shoulders walking back up court afterward.
Curry now has 12 points and is 4 of 8 — all from outside the arc. Curry missed his first three shots. He now has made four of his last five.
IN PHOTOS: French president Emmanuel Macron is in the crowd
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
US stretches its lead to 13
The U.S. has matched its biggest lead of the game, up 13 at 58-45 midway through the third quarter.
Second half underway
The second half is underway, with Durant opening the third quarter with a bucket to put the U.S. back up by 10 at 51-41.
Who is Guerschon Yabusele?
France’s Guerschon Yabusele has had one heck of a three weeks at the Paris Games.
He led France in scoring in each of its two previous victories against Canada in the quarterfinals (22 points) and Germany in the semifinals (17 points).
And he had a game-high 15 points in 15 minutes to lead France in the first half. The U.S. leads 49-41.
One reason he probably isn’t intimidated the U.S. and its roster of NBA talent is because Yabusele used to play against them. Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round in 2017, he spent two seasons with them before being released in 2019.
Yabusele has been playing in Europe ever since and is currently with Real Madrid in Liga ACB.
France has more NBA talent than just Wemby
NBA rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama is not the league’s only player representing France at the Olympics.
Rudy Gobert from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Nicolas Batum from the Los Angeles Clippers and Bilal Coulibaly from the Washington Wizards are also on the roster.
US leads France 49-41 at halftime
The U.S. leads France 49-41 at halftime.
The Americans led by as many as 10 during the second quarter. Guerschon Yabusele beat the buzzer to cut into the deficit, drawing a roar from the French fans in the stands.
Yabusele leads France with 15 points, and Victor Wembanyama has 13 points.
Devin Booker is leading the Americans with 13 points.
A’ja Wilson courtside
U.S. women’s basketball star A’ja Wilson was sitting courtside supporting the men’s team.
Wilson and the women’s team will also play France in the gold medal game on Sunday.
It’s the first time in Olympic history that the men’s and women’s basketball finals feature the same countries.
Booker puts US up 10
Devin Booker’s fast-break layup and one put the U.S. up 46-36 with just over a minute and a half left in the second quarter.
Stephen Curry impresses Jimmy Fallon
Stephen Curry missed his first three shots. Then he dropped in a 3-pointer late in the second quarter to extend the U.S. lead.
Curry looked toward the sideline and Jimmy Fallon and pointed before running back down the court on defense.
Fallon, cell phone in hand, jumped up at the big bucket by Curry.
LeBron and the US punch back
LeBron James and the U.S. have responded to France’s run to take a 36-31 lead with 3:26 left before halftime. James has six points.
An 8-0 run helps France take the lead
The U.S. led after the first quarter. Well, France has responded in a strong fashion.
The French opened the second on a 10-4 run to take a 25-24 lead. Bilal Coulibaly finished off a fast-break with 7:10 left for the lead, bringing the home fans to their feet loud and rowdy at Bercy Arena.
US up 20-15 over France after opening quarter
The U.S. leads host France 20-15 at the end of the first quarter with the teams swapping the lead six times.
Victor Wembanyama has given France a quick seven points to open the game.
Devin Booker has matched him for the U.S., and the Americans got a couple of 3-pointers from Anthony Edwards off the bench late in the quarter.
A fast start for Wemby
NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama got off to a quick start for France, scoring seven points in the first four minutes, including a highlight dunk after blowing past Joel Embiid at the top of the key.
The U.S. leads France 12-11 more than midway through the first quarter.
IN PHOTOS: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff in attendance
US and France tip off for gold
The gold medal men’s basketball game at the Paris Olympics between the U.S. and France is underway.
Time for the anthems
Many of the celebrities and VIPs with seats marked off arrived just in time for a bit of a crush just as the national anthems started.
Scottie Pippen, who played for the U.S. in 1992 as part of the Dream Team and again in 1996, visited and hugged four-time NBA champ Tony Parker as the Star-Spangled Banner ended. As the French anthem played, he walked down courtside to his seat where he hugged IOC member and former NBA star Pau Gasol.
Tatum’s time to shine?
Jayson Tatum has one more chance to have a bona fide moment during the Paris Games.
As the U.S. prepares to play host France in the gold medal game, he was on the court for an extended time going through his pregame shooting routine. Throwing passes to him was U.S. assistant coach Ty Lue, Tatum’s cousin and the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Tatum has been a constant story during the U.S. run, playing in only three of the Americans’ five games. He was held out of the team’s opener against Serbia and its dramatic 95-91 comeback against the Serbians in the semifinals.
Coach Steve Kerr has been adamant it isn’t personal but rather a matchup-related decision not to play the Boston Celtics star, the player who now has the richest contract in NBA history after signing a $315 million extension earlier this summer.
Tatum said after the first game against Serbia that the experienced humbled him but that he was here to be a team player. That said, he’s a candidate to have a big night for the U.S.
Selfies galore
Fans are busy trying to document history with cell phones out during warm-ups for the men’s basketball gold medal game.
They’re taking selfies with the Americans and French on the court behind them or simply shooting video and snapping pics to commemorate the moment.
The game is scheduled to get underway in about 10 minutes.
A post-warm-up wardrobe change
Remember the sparkly, even glittery shoes LeBron James wore when he first took the court for warm-ups?
Well, James has made a wardrobe change to something even brighter. Now he’s wearing golden shoes so bright they gleam in the lights shining on the court at Bercy Arena.
And why not wear golden shoes when chasing an Olympic gold medal?
Home-court edge hasn’t always been unbeatable at Olympics
France will be “home” for both basketball gold medal games — the men’s one on Saturday night and the women’s one on Sunday afternoon, each time against the U.S.
Home teams are 5-2 entering tonight when playing for basketball gold on home soil.
The U.S. men and women each won in 1984 and 1996, sweeping the titles in Los Angeles and Atlanta. The women’s team from the Soviet Union won in Moscow in 1980.
Australia’s women lost to the U.S. at Sydney in 2000 and Japan’s women also lost to the U.S. at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
For the Holidays, it’s 4 medals in 5 Olympics
Jrue Holiday was on the U.S. men’s basketball team that won gold in Tokyo three years ago. He’s got a chance for a second hoops gold coming up.
That would put him in a tie for the lead in his household.
Holiday’s wife is Lauren Cheney Holiday, a two-time U.S. women’s soccer gold medalist . She won gold in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
Jrue Holiday will get a second Olympic medal in Paris on Saturday night, either gold or silver. But he needs gold to tie his wife’s mark.
“One, it means I can sit at the table with my wife, so that’d be cool,” Jrue Holiday said. “It’s just an honor and a blessing. I was there for her in 2012 to watch her compete, and then her being here for this one, it’s been awesome to get to share it with my family.”
What to expect in the men’s basketball gold medal game
If history is any guide, the gold medal game in men’s basketball between the U.S. and France might not be super close.
There have been only two Olympic men’s basketball finals in history decided by five points or less: the highly controversial 51-50 win by the Soviet Union over the U.S. in 1972, and the 87-82 win by the Americans over France at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The average margin of victory in every other Olympic men’s gold medal game: 19.6 points.
IN PHOTOS: LeBron James’ metallic sneakers
For the men’s gold medal game, celebrities have seat assignments
By Theresa M. Walker
Comedian Jimmy Fallon has a couple seats waiting for him. Scottie Pippen, who played on two “Dream Teams” for the U.S. in 1992 and 1996, and Carmelo Anthony also have seats with their names on them.
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are hustling over from watching the U.S. women take gold in soccer along with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. Only Bird, who won five Olympic gold medals, and Rapinoe, have seats marked with their names.
Fans are dressed to impress
An hour before tip-off, there were a wide assortment of NBA and Olympic jerseys in the stands with fans representing LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Tony Parker and Victor Wembanyama.
They’re on the court to warm up for gold
The first three people on the court for the Olympic gold medal game were U.S. assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue and Mark Few.
There are strict rules about players not being able to take the court until exactly 60 minutes until tip-off. The first players to make it out there were LeBron James (who started with a dunk) for the U.S. and Victor Wembanyama for France.
And let’s just say LeBron’s shoes will be trending — a metallic green, sparkling in the light.
Two USA v. France games this weekend set the stage for major fan showings
By Theresa M. Walker
France is set for a big basketball weekend to cap the Paris Olympics, with both the men’s and women’s teams playing for gold medals. And they’re playing the Americans.
The French teams will not be lacking for support.
Whenever the French teams have played — whether in Lille during pool play or now in Paris at Bercy Arena — fans not been timid in showing up and showing out.
U.S. forward Breanna Stewart is looking forward to the environment.
“Just the way that the fans are continuing to support their countries and come out to France,” Stewart said, “… hopefully we got some from the United States coming. They’re being loud and making an impact in women’s sports.”
▶ Read more about the France v. USA games this weekend
Red, white and blue everywhere
Some fans are filing into Bercy Arena for the men’s basketball final, including a few Americans with red, white and blue flags.
On that front, they’re outnumbered.
France — with its blue, white and red tricolor flag — obviously has the same color scheme, and well over 1,000 handheld flags were distributed in a seating area behind one of the baskets for the men’s gold-medal game.
Meanwhile, French basketball legend Tony Parker will be part of the pregame ceremony, adding even more flair to the festivities before the game starts.
Why Jayson Tatum isn’t playing much
Jayson Tatum has not played in two of the five U.S. games at the Paris Olympics, held out of both matchups against Serbia.
And, once again, U.S. coach Steve Kerr said that it’s not an indictment of Tatum.
“It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson. It’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” Kerr said. “Like I’ve said many times during this tournament and this last six weeks, it’s just hard to play 11 people, even in an NBA game.”
▶ Read more on Kerr’s lineup decisions and the Americans’ balanced offense