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'Crazy ending': USA make it four in a row after thrilling final

Kevin Durant (pictured left) celebrates Team USA's win with Devin Booker after the men's final basketball match between France and the USA at the Olympics. (Getty Images)
Kevin Durant (pictured left) celebrates Team USA's win with Devin Booker after the men's final basketball match between France and the USA at the Olympics. (Getty Images)

The USA have again cemented their world dominance in basketball after making it four Olympic gold medals in a row following their win over France in the final.

Durant led the way offensively for Team USA, who in these Games surpassed Carmelo Anthony as the United States’ highest career scorer, with 29 points in the 87-82 victory at the Saitama Super Arena.

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The championship attracted the biggest crowd yet to the arena north of Tokyo in these Games, with the bottom bowl of seats about half full of athletes, officials, media and volunteers in place of fans due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It marked the fourth Olympics in a row Team USA have picked up gold and it was their 16th gold for the country in the sport.

France earned their third Olympic silver medal in men’s basketball.

Slovenia, making their debut at the Games, will play Australia in the bronze medal match later on Saturday.

Fans react to USA's Olympics dominance

While the USA appeared to be cruising in the final, France made it tense after pulling the margin back to five points with a few seconds remaining.

Fans couldn't believe the 'crazy' ending, which was the second closest scoreline in a men's basketball final ever at the Olympics.

France's Rudy Gobert appeared devastated after the final buzzer, while the star-studded USA outfit celebrated the achievement.

The US men have historically been the team to beat, with 15 gold medals since 1936 going into these Games.

But this year's team proved to be vulnerable, dropping two-straight exhibition games in July and suffering a shock 83-76 defeat to France in the preliminary round of the Games, which was their first defeat here on the Olympic stage since 2004.

with Reuters

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