USA beats France to win Olympic gold in men's basketball

PARIS - There was no Miracle on the Seine at the Olympics on Saturday as the United States men's basketball team did as expected by grinding out a 98-87 win over France to claim a fifth consecutive gold medal.

With the French sporting spotlight locked on the Bercy arena, the American showmen crushed Gallic hearts led by a fired up LeBron James, the "King" wearing shiny golden sneakers to mark the occasion.

The result was the same as three years ago in the Tokyo Olympic gold medal game but for the French this loss cut a little deeper coming on home hardwood in front of a captivated nation.

France will get another shot at hoops glory on Sunday but the women's team will be even bigger underdogs against the mighty Americans who have not lost in the Olympics since 1992 and are chasing an eighth straight gold.

Serbia beat Germany to clinch bronze.

—Reuters