PARIS, Aug 11 (Bernama-dpa) -- Stephen Curry hit four crucial three pointers when it mattered as the United States won Olympic men's basketball gold, 98-87 over Paris Games hosts France, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
It was a fifth straight and 17th overall title from 20 participations for the US who have also medalled in all of them, and Kevin Durant become the first man to win four golds inn the sport.
The US team led by 14 early in the third quarter but France refused to bow and were within three at 82-79 from Viktor Wembayana with three minutes left at the Bercy Arena.
But Curry the stepped up like in his 36-point-gala in the narrow semi-final win against Serbia, under the eyes of French President Emmanuel Macron and Interational Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
He hit an incredible three for 85-79 and added another three from a distance to see the US through, leading the way with 24 points, all of them from three-point range.
Durant and Devin Booker had 15 each and LeBron James 14 while Wembayana, who was in tears post-match, paced France with 26 points.
The two nations meet again in the women's final on Sunday, where the US team seeks an eighth straight gold.
-- Bernama-dpa
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