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The U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (5-1) earned the USA’s fourth straight Olympic gold medal with a hard-fought 87-82 win over France (5-1) in the gold medal game on Saturday afternoon at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo.

Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets) scored 29 points, including the USA’s last two free throws to help seal the win. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) added 19 points, and Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks) and Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) each contributed 11 points.   It was not always pretty, but in the end, the United States men’s basketball team ascended to the heights they were always expected to reach. Overcoming a slow start to the Olympic tournament,

The USA trailed 12-6 to start the game and was 0-for-8 from 3-point before gaining some momentum. With the USA down 12-8, Durant scored 10 straight points, including the USA’s first score from behind the arc, to give the USA an 18-15 lead. France tied it up with a 3-pointer, but LaVine made a free throw and Tatum sunk one from deep to put the USA up 22-18 at the end of the first period.

the USA lead to 44-39 at halftime.

At the midway point, Durant already had 21 points, but the USA was getting outrebounded 23-14 as was still just 22.2% from 3-point (4-18 3pt FGs).

France came within two points at the start of the third, 46-44, but a 3-pointer from Lillard was followed by a score from Holiday and five points from Durant, and France called a timeout with the USA back up by double-digits, 56-45, at 6:25. France cut it back to six points out of the timeout, but the USA responded each time France threatened.

The USA and France previously met in the first game of Group A action on July 25, and France battled back from a seven-point deficit in the final 3:41 to take an 83-76 victory.

France came in to the Final with an Unbeaten record

Detailed Scores

USA 67(Kevin Durrant29,Jayson tatum19,Damian Lillard11,Jrue holiday11) BT France-85(Evan Fournier16,Rudy Robert16,Guerschon13,Nando Decolo12) 2218,22-21,27-24,16-19)