USA basketball beat France for fifth straight gold
The star-studded US men's basketball team successfully clinched their fifth straight Olympic gold -- beating France 98-87 in a hotly-contested final at the Paris Games.  Stephen Curry hit eight three pointers to lead the Americans with 24 points. Four of his triples came in the final three minutes of the game to silence a raucous home crowd at Bercy Arena.  In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, French center Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points and seven rebounds.  The hosts were able to keep the game close for much of the first three quarters, trailing 66-72 entering the final frame.  A Wembanyama tip-in cut the deficit to three with less than three minutes to go, but Curry then took control with his hot-shooting to put the US back up by nine with less than a minute remaining. After scoring his final basket, Curry, the four-time NBA champion, did his trademark “go to sleep” gesture where he puts his hands on the side of his face to the crowd. It was the 36-year-old sharp-shooter's first Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker scored 15 points apiece for the Americans, while LeBron James chipped in 14. Despite a losing effort, French forward Guerschon Yabusele continued his strong play at the Games, finishing with 20 points.  In the bronze-medal match, Serbia beat Germany 93-83. (Agencies)