In the Men’s Basketball Final at the Paris Olympics 2024, Chef Steph left it to the last three minutes of the match against France to prove his status as the greatest shooter in this sport. Stephen Curry, the all-time best three-point specialist in the history of the game, drove Team USA to a historic Gold, defeating host nation France by 11 points. This victory marked the US’s fifth consecutive gold in the prestigious event. Moreover, it paved the way for a satisfying farewell for three stalwarts of the amazing sport, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Curry.
After dropping nine threes (36 points in total) in the semi-final clash against Serbia, there were high hopes from Steph to deliver once again in the final. It looked as if the Golden State Warriors player was peaking at the right moment, just in time to cook a French recipe. However, the start was not ideal and it was down to the last quarter where the 36-year-old showed his greatness. Read more to find out what exactly happened.
Steph Was Zero of Two To Start With
Curry led Team USA in the semi-final against Serbia and a similar start was expected of him in the final. Meanwhile, LeBron and Kevin both were in red-hot form which made them the favorites, despite the expected hostile Paris crowd. The entire arena was cheering for the French, led by the 20-year-old wonderkid Victor Wembanyama. Therefore, it was a perfect stage set up for the Warriors legend to come up big.
Surprisingly, the game started with Steph looking to find his way while others were already on their feet. The intensity was high and the speed in the opening few minutes saw a lot of points in quick succession. Back-and-forth play from the two finalists showed the willingness to win and it set the stage for an epic clash. However, while other players were finding the basket, Curry seemed to struggle with this shooting. He attempted for a three twice in the first quarter but missed and it looked as if his shots lacked some rhythm. It was players like Anthony Edwards and Durant who stepped up and gave the USA a 20-15 lead going into the second.
Curry Bags Two ‘Bangs’ in the First Half
https://gty.im/2166234002
There is a limit to where the best shooter in the world can be stopped from scoring. After scoring 20 points in the first quarter, France came back strong in the second, courtesy of some great plays from Yabusele. His inspiring game put his team in the lead with the score going 25-23 in favor of the French. It was then that Steph came up with his first three, putting the USA back into the lead and scoring another one, a few minutes later.
The second quarter turned out to be the highest scoring, ending 29-26 with the US edging past France and taking the overall lead to 49-41. The two teams headed to the tunnel at the end of the first half with Team USA having an eight-point lead over the hosts. There was a lot left to play for and Steph was just getting started.
Steph Goes Berserk In the Final 3 Minutes
The crowd cheered massively for the home team, aiming to make a comeback in the second half. With an eight-point lead, the game started on a similar spectrum, following the patterns of the first half. Still not at his best, Curry managed to find two shots from behind the arc to put his tally to 12 for the night. On the other hand, the French team kept pushing hard, pressurized Team USA and cut the lead to six going into the final quarter. The hosts managed to win the third quarter 25-23.
There was a sense of nervousness inside the arena and coach Steve Kerr had difficult decisions to make. In the end, he let LeBron, Steph, and Kevin play the maximum minutes on the court, letting the young ones warm the bench a little bit more. In all the intensity and drama, there came a time when the home team struck back. Just before the final three minutes, they cut the lead short to three points (82-79), giving massive hope to the entire crowd. However, this is when everything changed and Steph turned on his god mode.
A lovely behind-the-back pass from LeBron gave Curry some space to shoot his fifth three of the game. From there on, what everyone saw was just a masterclass from the all-time great. He cooked the entire French team with four consecutive shots from the perimeter. Not only this, his final three-pointer came from a place where he was double-teamed, and despite that, he found the basket from that far. 12 points from Steph in the last three minutes killed the game for France, as they ended up losing by 11 points (98-87).
Stephen Curry once again proved why is the unanimous best-ever three-point shooter in the history of the sport. There is no one even close to him and there are doubts if there ever will be one.
For More Great Content
Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!
Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
