Long-time battered, the United States pushes aside Serbia and joins the French team in the final

After being up to 17 points behind, Team USA will defend its Olympic crown against France on Saturday (9:30 p.m.), as in Tokyo in 2021.

Team USA bends, but does not break. Led for most of the match by a Serbian team carried by its pivot Nikola Jokic, the United States finally found the key to overcoming Serbia (95-91), Thursday, August 8 at the Arena Bercy. If the team that many saw as a new version of the Dream Team Barcelona 1992 was dominated for long minutes, it was able to rely on the awakening of its individualities to make the difference at the end of the match. With 36 points, Stephen Curry was decisive in the success of his team.

Having long been stuck with a tough nut to crack named Nikola Jokic (17 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists), three-time NBA player of the year, the Americans came up against a perfectly-oiled Serbian team, which contrasted sharply with that of Steve Kerr’s men.

Although he initially recited an almost perfect score for three quarters, the Denver Nuggets player conceded an unfortunate fourth foul in the middle of the last period, which coincided with the Americans’ comeback. Although ahead after thirty minutes (76-63), Serbia lost its means and, above all, its long-distance accuracy at the worst of times (0/9 on three-pointers in the last quarter). Prohibitive for hoping for a victory.

With 17 points on the clock after the first ten minutes, Bercy quickly understood that Stephen Curry was having a great night. For his first Olympic Games, the four-time NBA champion did not want to miss his only opportunity to win a gold medal, so he gave himself the means to do so.

Author of a triple double, LeBron James (16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists) keeps alive the hope of winning a third Olympic title, which would make him enter the history of his sport even more. Kevin Durant, already crowned with three gold medals at the Olympics, was well aware of the feat achieved and the proximity of defeat: “This is one of those games you’ll talk about for the rest of your life..”

Victor Wembanyama’s Blues will therefore be entitled to a rematch of the Tokyo Games final. They hope to reverse the score, even if Team USA’s squad seems much more consistent this year. In the event of victory, they will certainly also talk about it for the rest of their lives.