Stephen Curry was thinking about this two years ago, after winning his fourth NBA title with the Golden State Warriors. The only thing left for him to win was Olympic gold. And in the ultimate moment, he made sure that medal would be his. The U.S. is atop the international men's basketball world once again, after Curry scored 24 points - all on 3-pointers and led the way to a 98-87 win over France in the final at the Paris Games. It was the fifth consecutive gold medal for the U.S. and the 17th in 20 all-time appearances for the Americans at the Games.
"You just stay confident, stay present and don't get rattled by the moment," said Curry, who had 17 3-pointers in his last two games, starting with nine against Serbia to get to the gold-medal game.
Added U.S. coach Steve Kerr: "Steph earned this." Curry made four 3-pointers in the final 2:43, including the one that just sealed the win with 1:19 remaining. It put the U.S. up 93-84 and he skipped down the court letting out a yell, shaking his jersey so everyone could see the "USA" across the front. If that wasn't enough, one more followed with about 30 seconds left - along with the go-to-sleep move where he puts his hands together on the side of his face. "Night night," he calls it, and he came prepared, with a special shirt to wear after the game for a champagne-and-cigars celebration. "Nuit nuit," it said, the French translation.
Good night. Game over. Gold won. Again.
"For me to get a gold medal is insane, and I thank God for the opportunity to experience it," Curry said.
Kevin Durant - the first four-time men's gold medalist in Olympic basketball history-scored 15 for the Americans, as did Devin Booker. LeBron James, wearing metallic gold shoes that needed no explanation, scored 14 for the U.S. as he won his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.
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Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av Cricket Today.
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