**PARIS (AP) — Two years ago, after securing his fourth NBA championship, Stephen Curry had his sights set on one remaining goal: Olympic gold.**
**U.S. Men's Basketball Wins Fifth Straight Olympic Gold, Overcoming France and Rising Star Wembanyama**
The United States men's basketball team clinched their fifth consecutive Olympic gold with a hard-fought 98-87 victory over France, despite a remarkable performance by 20-year-old sensation Victor Wembanyama. Less than 48 hours after narrowly defeating Serbia in a tense semi-final, the U.S. faced a determined French squad and a passionate crowd at Bercy Arena, who were hoping to see their team become the first to win Olympic gold on home soil since the U.S. in 1996.
Wembanyama shone with 26 points, but it was Stephen Curry who ultimately made the difference, scoring a team-high 24 points, including four crucial three-pointers in the final minutes, to lead the U.S. to victory. Curry's late-game heroics, after initially struggling with his shot, helped the Americans pull away from a persistent French team.
Kevin Durant added 15 points, becoming the first male athlete to win four gold medals in any team sport, while Devin Booker and LeBron James contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively. The victory improved the U.S. Olympic record to 143-5, including 36-1 since their disappointing performance in Athens 20 years ago.
The French team, led by Wembanyama, came close but couldn't overcome the American juggernaut. France, who had hoped to win their first Olympic gold after previous silver medals in 1948, 2000, and 2020, will look to future tournaments with optimism, particularly with rising stars like Wembanyama, Zaccharie Risacher, and Alex Sarr on the horizon.
As the U.S. continues its dominance in Olympic basketball, France will have another chance at glory when their women's team faces the U.S. in the gold medal game on Sunday.
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