Team USA holds off France, picks up fourth-straight gold medal

The United States opened the Tokyo Olympics with a loss to France.

On Friday night, Team USA saw its medal chase come full circle. Kevin Durant scored 29 points, 21 in the first half, as the United Stated defeated France 87-82 to pick up its fourth-straight Olympic gold medal. The gold medal is the 17th for USA men’s basketball.

Durant is the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. in Olympic history. In the final stretch of the Tokyo Olympics, he stepped up when the Americans needed a spark. He did it in the semifinals against Australia, and again on Friday night. Jayson Tatum, who has been USA’s second-leading scorer throughout the Olympics, finished with 19 points. Damian Lillard had 11, and Bam Adebayo pulled down six rebounds and added six points.

Durant sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining, holding off a surging French team. The Americans went on a 6-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, leading by nine with nearly two minutes to play. But France cut the United States’ lead to eight with 1:10 to play. Team USA missed three free throws in the final 35 seconds, allowing France to make it 85-82 with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Team USA has used the third quarter to put away teams throughout the Olympics. Friday night was no different. Durant started a 7-0 USA run midway through the third quarter, giving the U.S. a 51-45 lead. Lillard hit a corner 3-pointer with 4:58 in the quarter, stretching the American’s lead to nine.

Tatum gave the Americans an 14-point lead late in the third on a breakaway dunk. The French battled back, however, cutting it to 71-63 heading into the final frame.

Durant started to assert himself in the second quarter. The New York Nets star gave the Americans some momentum, helping Team USA build a 13-point lead midway through the second quarter. He finished the half with 21 points as USA held on to a 44-39 lead over France at the half.

The American started the game slow as France tried to establish a presence in the paint. Rudy Gobert and Guerschon Yabusele each picked up a dunk in the opening minutes. The United States inched back to take a 22-18 lead late in the first quarter, overcoming a slow start, which has been typical of the team in the Tokyo Olympics.