Kevin Durant, Team USA hold off France to clinch fourth straight Olympic basketball gold

Kevin Durant and the United States men’s basketball team had to hold off a late rally from France, but got the job done, 87-82, to ensure they would take home the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Saturday at the Saitama Super Arena.

Durant scored 29 points, including two clutch free throws in the last 10 seconds, to lead the US while Jayson Tatum added 19 points.

Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday each added 11 points apiece in the gold medal match.

It was the fourth straight gold medal for the US men’s basketball team in the Olympics.

The United States got a huge showing from Durant in the first half, as the NBA superstar scored 21 points over the first two quarters. Team USA, though, only led by five points, 44-39, at the break.

They were able to gain some separation in the third quarter after a 10-1 run behind Durant and Lillard gave them a 56-45 lead. They were able to push that to as high as 14, 71-57, after a series of baskets from Tatum and Zach Lavine.

But a rough offensive patch for the US to start the fourth allowed France to get back in the game.

The Americans only scored two points over the first four minutes to come back to within three, 73-70.

Big shots from Lillard and Holiday allowed the US to keep their distance and a big three from Tatum made it a double-digit lead again, 82-72, with 3:24 remaining.

France, though, stayed within striking distance after an Evan Fournier triple cut the lead down to six, 84-78. A dunk from Frank Ntilikina and two free throws from Nando De Colo brought them even closer, 85-82, with 10 seconds remaining.

But Durant stepped up for the US and sealed the win with two from the charity stripe.

Fournier and Rudy Gobert led France with 16 points apiece.

This US team had a rocky start to their campaign for the gold medal, as they lost two exhibition games in the lead-up to the tournament. Several members of the team joined late as they had to finish playing in the NBA Finals and the team also had to make last-minute replacements to the roster.

They also lost their first game in these Olympics – to the same France team they had to beat in the finals.

But none of that matters now, though, as they clinch the coveted gold medal for a fourth consecutive time.

The scores:
USA 87 – Durant 29, Tatum 19, Holiday 11, Lillard 11, Adebayo 6, Lavine 5, Middleton 4, Booker 2, Green 0.

France 82 – Fournier 16, Gobert 16, Yabusele 13, De Colo 12, Luwawu Cabarrot 11, Batum 5, Ntilikina 5, Fall 4, Huertel 0, Poirier 0.

Quarterscores: 22-18, 44-39,  71-63, 87-82.

—JMB, GMA News