Basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Coming from nowhere, the United States beat Serbia and join France in the final

Stephen Curry was the man of the match for the US side. EPA – YOAN VALAT

The United States qualified for the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where they will face France on Saturday evening (9:30 p.m.), thanks to their stunning victory against Serbia (95-91) on Thursday, August 8.

The Americans, trailing almost the entire match, only took the lead with two minutes to go. They will aim for a fifth consecutive title on Saturday against the French, whom they beat in the final in Tokyo in 2021.

Saturday (9:30 p.m.) still at Paris-Bercy, Team USA will aim for a 17th gold medal, obviously a record. The Americans, shaken, were kept in contact for a long time by Stephen Curry (36 pts), implacable behind the arc (9/14).

It was even the Golden State shooter who allowed his team to get back in front (87-86) for the first time since the first quarter. Proof that they had sensed the bad wind, the four-time reigning Olympic champions celebrated LeBron James' lay-up (16 pts) after his defensive rebound (the 12th) with angry shouts.

The match had started badly for the US

LeBron James and his teammates had been overwhelmed by the Serbians who accelerated at the start of the second quarter (42-25). In the group stage, “Team USA” had easily disposed (110-84) of Nikola Jokic's team (17 pts, 11 assists), double NBA MVP.

Nicknamed the “Avengers”, this team of NBA superstars was assembled following the industrial accident of last year's World Cup, which finished in fourth place after two slaps against Germany (113-111) and then Canada (127-118).