Basketball finals provide high drama
- 10 August, Bercy Arena: Basketball — Men’s
- 11 August, Bercy Arena: Basketball — Women’s
Okay, a bit of a two-in-one here for this medal moment… or these medal moments.
After drama in both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments – notably the US men having to come back from 17 points down against Serbia in the semi-final and the French women requiring overtime in their last-four clash against Belgium — both gold-medal matches were set up as many fans hoped: hot favourites and reigning champions Team USA against the hosts France.
On 10 August, the star-studded US team, featuring LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, faced off against Victor Wembanyama and Team France in the men’s final.
And while Wembanyama top-scored in the final with 26 points, Curry put on a clinic of three-point shooting, going 8-for-12 from outside the arc to tally 24 points, including four in the space of two minutes and 12 seconds in the final quarter as the US won 96-87.
- Gold: United States of America
- Silver: France
- Bronze: Serbia
But more drama was to come in the women’s final the day after, as France nearly improbably tied a close contest in the final second.
With Team USA seven-time reigning champions, few would have given the hosts a chance. However, some hot shooting in the second quarter ensured the two teams were level 25-25 at half-time.
The French streak continued in the second half and the hosts were ahead by double digits in the third quarter at 35-25 before Team USA closed the gap, then took the lead.
With time running out, the US lead was 67-64 — and as the buzzer sounded, France’s Gabby Williams drained a basket from the arc. From beyond the arc? Not quite — her foot had stayed inside the three-point line, meaning the hosts narrowly missed out on forcing overtime, and the US could celebrate victory in the closest Olympic basketball final ever.
- Gold: United States of America
- Silver: France
- Bronze: Australia