Golden revenge: Team USA defeat France to triumph in fourth straight Olympics / News - Basketnews.com

After losing to France twice in a row, Team USA finally got their revenge against the Frenchmen 87-82 (22-18, 22-21, 27-24, 16-19) to claim the fourth straight Olympic gold medal.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Kevin Durant Points 29 Accuracy 9-18 Rebounds 6 Assists 3

The Americans were once again led by the incredible play from Kevin Durant. He scored 29 points (6/9 2PT, 3/9 3PT, 8/9 FT), had 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 29 PIR over 35.3 minutes.

Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier helped France stay within striking distance. Gobert scored 16 (5/5 2PT, 6/13 FT) and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Fournier added 16 (3/6 2PT, 2/9 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 boards, and 2 assists.

France started the game well and jumped out to an early 10-4 lead after Fournier’s 3-pointer. Team USA once again started off by shooting poorly from behind the arc (0-7 during the first five minutes). However, Kevin Durant scored ten points in a row, making the team’s first shot from the deep, Jayson Tatum added another 3-pointer, and the USA had a 22-18 advantage after one.

The Americans remained in control of the game in the second quarter. Jayson Tatum scored six points, Khris Middleton added three, Kevin Durant made an and-one dunk and a shot from the deep, helping the USA gain their largest lead (33-24). France tried to come back by feeding the ball to their big man Rudy Gobert. The 2021 NBA Defensive Player of the Year scored six points in a row, including a strong and-one dunk. Nando De Colo made a 3-pointer, Fournier added two free throws, thus cutting the French deficit to five points going into halftime (44-39).

Both teams traded buckets at the start of the second half. But after a Jrue Holiday's layup and KD's three, Team USA gained their first double-digit lead of the game (56-45). However, France answered back and cut their deficit to just six points after two free throws by De Colo (56-50). The Americans had their own ideas and once again increased their advantage, this time to 14 points (71-57). Nut France weathered the storm to end the quarter and, after a last-second 3-pointer by Nicolas Batum, made it a single-digit contest going into the final period (71-63).

Even though the USA were in control of the final period, France would not go away. Frank Ntilikina brought his team within just three points at the halfway mark of the fourth (73-70). But the Americans answered with six straight points, gaining a comfortable nine-point lead. Fournier's deep shot cut it to six with 1:08 remaining, and De Colo reduced it to three with 10 seconds to go. But Durant made two free throws to seal the deal and lead his team to a golden 87-82 victory.

The USA: Kevin Durant 29 (6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block), Jayson Tatum 19 (7 rebounds), Damian Lillard 11, Jrue Holiday 11 (5 assists, 3 steals), Bam Adebayo 6 (6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal).

France: Rudy Gobert 16 (8 rebounds), Evan Fournier 16, Guerschon Yabusele 13, Nando De Colo 12 (7 assists, 5 rebounds), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 11.

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