'Outrageous' Stephen Curry powers USA to yet another basketball gold medal
Stephen Curry was thinking about this two years ago after winning his fourth NBA title. The only thing left for him to win was Olympic gold.
And in the ultimate moment, he made sure that medal would be his.
The US is atop the international men's basketball world once again, after Curry scored 24 points and led the way to a 98-87 win over France in the final at Paris 2024 on Sunday morning (AEST).
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Steph Curry was sublime in the men's basketball gold medal match. Getty
It was the fifth consecutive gold medal for the US — and the 17th in 20 all-time appearances for the Americans at the Games.
Curry made four 3-pointers in the final two minutes or so, including the one that sealed the win with just over a minute remaining. It put the US 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.
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Kevin Durant claimed his fourth Olympic gold. NBAE via Getty Images
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.
"Oh, my goodness! Nighty night says Steph! Eight threes in the gold medal game! It's outrageous shooting," Andrew Gaze quipped in commentary for Nine.
"When the lights are brightest, Steph Curry has shown up."
Good night. Game over. Gold won. Again.
Kevin Durant — the first four-time men's gold medalist in Olympic basketball history — scored 15 for the Americans, as did Devin Booker.
And LeBron James, wearing metallic gold shoes that needed no explanation, scored 14 for the US as he won his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.
For the second consecutive Olympics, the French had to watch the Americans hold out US flags in celebration after the title game. The French lost to the US 87-82 in Tokyo three years ago, and this one was down to the final minutes. That is, until Curry took over.
Victor Wembanyama, in his first Olympic final, was brilliant for France, scoring 26 points, covered his face in a towel afterward as the Americans celebrated. Guerschon Yabusele scored 20 for the hosts.
The US lead was 14 early in the third, looking poised to pull away. But the offense quickly went cold and when Evan Fournier connected on a 3-pointer with three minutes left in the quarter the lead was down to six — a 12-4 run by the hosts.
And with a chance to go up double-digits headed to the fourth, a big US blunder gave France another jolt of momentum.
Anthony Edwards and Durant got their signals crossed on a pass that led to a turnover, Nando De Colo scored to beat the buzzer and the US lead was only 72-66 going into the final 10 minutes.
It got as close as three. No closer, thanks to Curry.
