USA basketball avoided an embarrassing defeat to Serbia to rally late and reach the men’s gold medal match against France at the Olympics.
Captain Steph Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant were among the NBA stars boosting Steve Kerr’s side, but three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic pushed their star-studded opponents all the way.
Curry’s 36 points and a triple double from James, with a sprinkling of Durant’s sharp shooting off the bench, were all needed to deny Serbia, who led by double figures for most of the semi-final.
Previously undefeated Germany were earlier stunned by the hosts France in the first semi-final, as Victory Wembayama inspired Les Bleus the FIBA Basketball World Cup winners in a nail-biting finish at the Bercy Arena.
Follow live reaction fom USA v Serbia at the Bercy Arena below:
Olympics men’s basketball: USA v Serbia
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Olympics men’s basketball reaches semi-finals as Team USA face Nikola Jokic’s Serbia at 20:00 BST
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Hosts France, led by Victor Wembanyama, take on Germany in the earlier semi-final at 16:30 BST
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LeBron James gets stitches after nasty injury in Olympic basketball quarter-final
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France stun world champions Germany to reach men’s final
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Steph Curry shoots blazing 17 points in thrilling first quarter
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Serbia eye huge upset behind Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic
LeBron James speaks to the media
23:05 , Chris Wilson
LeBron James is the next big name to step in front of the microphones, and he praises the “perseverance, hard work [and] dedication” of Team USA.
“Big-time win for us. We knew we were going to be challenged, we knew it was going to be the toughest game to date, but it was a true total effort.”
He says that he was “not angry” during the match, adding that “it’s all about competitive flow, competitive juices, and just trying to get everything as close to perfection as possible.”
“[We’re] always trying to be aggressive, make plays for our team. Try to do a little bit of everything out on the floor. My teammates believe in me, and I was able to come through for them.”
When asked where this win ranks among the best in his career, he says that “it’s up there”.
“I’m 39 years old, going into my 22nd season. I don’t know how many opportunities and moments I’m going to get like this to be able to compete for something, compete for something big and play in big games, and tonight was a big game.”
Team USA knew how tight that match was…
23:00 , Chris Wilson
Bogdanovic reacts to narrow loss
22:55 , Chris Wilson
Bogdan Bogdanovic spoke to the media after the loss, saying that “a couple of easy turnovers, transition buckets, [and] some calls” turned the game.
“I still believe that we could have won this game, a couple of possessions, a call goes our way, a couple of shots. But that is basketball. You should be proud even if you lose a game like this.
“You can have the best game of your life, but if you lose, you are a loser. But I feel we are not losers.
“We showed we can compete against the best teams in the world and I just wish we won. We did some good things but we lost. In two days we have to recover and fight for the bronze.
He is also irritated about the officiating, adding that “we tried to talk to them and they did not try to talk to us”.
Olympics 2024: Men’s basketball final
22:50 , Chris Wilson
Looking ahead to the final, and it’ll be the 13th meeting between the two nations. The USA currently hold a 10-2 head-to-head lead, with the most recent meetings happening at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
In 2021, France won 83-76 in the group stage before the USA flipped that result and got revenge 87-82 in the final.
The two teams also met in the Olympic final in 1948 and 2000, with the USA. winning both of those.
France are looking to win gold for the first time ever, with the Americans going for their fifth straight gold.
US men’s basketball team rallies to beat Serbia in Paris Olympics, will face France for gold medal
22:45 , Chris Wilson
An early report…
They scored six points in two seconds. And just like that, against what looked like overwhelming odds, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team was on its way.
To a comeback. To a win. And to another Olympic gold medal game.
Stephen Curry scored 36 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:16 left, and the U.S. will play for gold in the Paris Olympics on Saturday night after beating Serbia 95-91. The U.S. trailed by 17 points in the first half, plus faced an 11-point halftime deficit — the biggest one successfully overcome by an American team since NBA players were added to the Olympic mix in 1992.
Serbia led by 11 with 7:19 left as well. The rest of the way, all U.S.
It’ll be the U.S. against host France for gold on Saturday night, while Serbia will face Germany earlier Saturday for bronze.
More reaction from Steph Curry
22:40 , Chris Wilson
Curry has been speaking about France, the USA’s final opponents on Saturday.
“They’re on their home turf, they’ve changed their rotation.
“Wemby can go off at any time, Fornier has hit some good shots.
“I know they’re going to feed of the home energy, so we have to get off to a good start. But other than that, I don’t know much about their system.”
On tonight’s performance and the attitude going into the final, he adds: “We’re all in this, man, some more vocally than others, but all of us.
“From superstars and hall of Famers on our respective teams, all we have accomplished, but the buy-in is there. It’s the only way to do it to win.
“Hopefully we win on Saturday and you can look at this game as the one that challenged us and tested us, the one you’ll remember, just because of the circumstances of being down the whole game.”
Regarding the potentially hostile environment when facing the home team, he says: “All 12 of us can find one game where we went into a hostile environment.”
More reaction from Steph Curry
22:34 , Chris Wilson
“Two minutes into the game, I realised, I’m getting looks, they’re playing a different type of defence. They were scoring a crazy amount.
“Getting lost in the moment, the result shows, whatever the game calls for.
“I shot three times in the last game, because that is what the game called for. I wasn’t looking to force it.. That’s the beauty of Team USA and FIBA, every game itit’ been somebody different, and it’s going to be someone different, hopefully with everyone contributing on Saturday.”
More reaction from Steph Curry
22:31 , Chris Wilson
“I haven’t had many opportunities, I haven’t shot the ball well all tournament. I had some great looks to start the game, to keep the rhythm flowing.
“The one in the fourth quarter, Joel set a great screen, knocking down a big shot, you live for those moments.
“We know who we are as a team, we weren’t playing our best basketball all game. We’re two possessions away from flipping it, we could feel it.
“There was a point, end of the third quarter, you feel, not ‘is it not our night? but ‘are they going to slow down at all?’
“The first four minutes of the fourth quarter were everything. Our defence will fuel us, we’ll score enough points, but can you get enough stops, for three quarters we didn’t, but then we figured it out.”
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia
22:26 , Chris Wilson
Steph Curry has been reacting to the game at the post-match press conference, and he says that the “defence came alive in the fourth quarter” to help turn the game around.
“Joel came in and hit some big shots, Bron got to the basket. Once you have life in defence, it usually fuels the offence.
“You’ve got to credit them, they’re a really good team, and it’s hard to beat a team three times.
“To come back the way we did…I’ve seen a lot of Team USA basketball, and that was a special one.”
Olympics 2024: Basketball
22:23 , Chris Wilson
The women’s basketball semi-finals take place tomorrow, with the USA facing Australia at 4.30pm BST and France taking on Belgium at 8pm.
The USA have won the last SEVEN competitions, dating back to Atlanta in 1996 – they finished in third in 1992, which was the last time when they didn’t make the final.
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia
22:18 , Chris Wilson
Saturday’s final will pit some of the most famous faces in the NBA against France’s squad of NBA journeymen and star up-and-comer Victor Wembanyama.
Curry, fresh off 36 points, and James, who secured just the fourth ever triple-double at the Olympics, will face a French side consisting of the Spurs’ Wembanyama, Clippers’ Nicolas Batum, the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert and Bilal Coulibaly of the Washington Wizards.
Other French players include Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos and Guerschon Yabusele of Real Madrid, both of whom were superb today, though in truth, the match is a bit of a mismatch (on paper anyway).
But the French sprung a surprise today, buoyed by their home support – could the same happen on Saturday?
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia
22:07 , Chris Wilson
The USA are through to their fifth final in a row, having won gold at the last four Olympics (starting with Beijing 2008).
They have won gold a record 16 times in basketball – perhaps unsurprisingly – and will go for number 17 on Saturday.
That match tips off around 8.30pm BST.
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia – Steph Curry reacts to dramatic win
22:04 , Jack Rathborn
“We talked about it all summer,” Curry says. “We knew we’d be challenged at some point, Serbia is tough, always hard.
“To come back the way we did is amazing. I knew I had that, it was just a matter of when. No matter if it’s two shots, three shots or like tonight.
“We have no quit, we know how much this means, with this group, to win a gold medal. He put a lot out there to turn the pace out there. Joel came in and hit some big shots, I hit the big game, but the defence carried us. It was pretty special.”
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia – TEAM USA THROUGH TO THE FINAL
22:01 , Chris Wilson
Steph Curry spoke to Eurosport after the match, saying that the USA knew that they “were going to be challenged at some point”.
“Serbia are tough, they’re a great team. To come back the way we did it was amazing.
“We know how much this means, to win a gold medal,” he added.
In an even shorter interview, LeBron James says that we need to “give a lot of credit to Serbia, they gave us everything they had.
‘They tested us and we needed that,” he adds.
Below is Curry scoring the last of his 36 points this evening.
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia – TEAM USA THROUGH TO THE FINAL
21:56 , Jack Rathborn
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia – TEAM USA THROUGH TO THE FINAL
21:55 , Chris Wilson
So the USA will face France in the gold medal match on Saturday, 10 August at the Bercy Arena.
The French beat Germany in today’s other semi-final, and they’ll face the USA in a rematch of the final from Tokyo 2020 – the USA won that match 87-82.
Olympic basketball: USA 95-91 Serbia – TEAM USA THROUGH TO THE FINAL
21:49 , Chris Wilson
More brilliance from Kevin Durant as he sinks two points to help the US. Serbia go up the other end and sink their own two, taking us to 93-91.
The US have possession with eight seconds left, with Steph Curry needing to land the free throws – he sinks number one for 94-91, and then converts the second too for 95-91! That will surely be that.
Bogdanovic misses the three and the USA are through! It was so close to an upset but the NBA stars combine for the victory in the end!
Curry with 36 points, LeBron James with the triple-double.
Olympic basketball: USA 91-89 Serbia – Q4 54s
21:45 , Chris Wilson
The five-point lead remains with just 1m41s remaining.
Serbia come again but Kevin Durant wins the turnover, and the US bench erupts!
LeBron James, who’s got just the fourth triple-double in the Olympics, gives away possession.
But there’s life left in Serbia as Bogdanovic lands the two and draws the contact for the free throw! He lands it for 91-89.
Olympic basketball: USA 87-86 Serbia – Q4 3:15
21:40 , Jack Rathborn
Curry, steps back… THREE!
It rattled around, but it’s good, the arena erupts.
Curry twirls in delight, beating his chest. The USA finally lead!
Curry on the break now and he’ll slash the Serbian defence before laying up. The lead is five points suddenly!
Olympic basketball: USA 84-86 Serbia – Q4 3:15
21:38 , Jack Rathborn
A snarl from James: 14 points, nine assists, nine rebounds.
He’s stepping up. But there’s Jokic in the paint in response, feeding Petrusev, and the dunk is too easy. They lead once again.
Olympic basketball: USA 84-84 Serbia – Q4 3:39
21:37 , Jack Rathborn
TIE GAME!
It had to be him, LeBron James on the charge, the hand co-ordination is majestic as he cuts through Milutinovic. Bucket! 84-84.
Olympic basketball: USA 82-84 Serbia – Q4 3:58
21:35 , Jack Rathborn
Embiid, the villain, has made two enormous buckets just now.
This time from three, remarkable, in the face of boos and whistles, he’s stepping up in the biggest moment for the USA.
Olympic basketball: USA 80-84 Serbia – Q4 5:00
21:34 , Jack Rathborn
Milutinovic with a huge offensive rebound. Jokic is there for the putback.
But there is a scrap for every offensive board now and Embiid gets one, too, and the foul!
Olympic basketball: USA 73-78 Serbia – Q4 7:17
21:29 , Jack Rathborn
Jokic tumbles into Davis, who stumbles into the feet of Durant as he makes the three-pointer, a lifeline for the USA with 7:19 left on the clock.
And here’s Booker for three after the timeout, makes it! The lead is down to five points.
The momentum has turned. Curry is applauding, here we go!
Serbia are about to suffer, but this game is there for them still.
Olympic basketball: USA 67-78 Serbia – Q4 7:40
21:26 , Jack Rathborn
It’s all Serbia!
Jokic with the bump, but it won’t stop him in the paint, Booker is no match here. The and-one coming up is… No good.
Still, it’s an 11-point lead with less than eight minutes remaining.
Olympic basketball: USA 63-76 Serbia – Q4
21:22 , Jack Rathborn
It’s becoming very real, this, an upset of enormous proportions is brewing.
Nikola Jokic is screaming from the bench after every bucket, but he won’t rest for long.
He’s even giving the teamtalk between quarters.
The Guduric four-point play with White at fault sparked wild scenes just now.
Serbia have opened up a 13-point lead with just 10 minutes to turn this around for the favourites.
Olympic basketball: USA 61-67 Serbia – Q3 1:47
21:16 , Jack Rathborn
Olympic basketball: USA 59-65 Serbia – Q3 3:02
21:14 , Jack Rathborn
Tenacious from Curry! He saves a James turnover, then gets a quick pass out to Holiday in the corner… THREE!
Lead down to six points, U-S-A rings around the arena. Embiid is into this one, roaring in delight as Serbia call timeout.
Olympic basketball: USA 56-65 Serbia – Q3 3:53
21:12 , Jack Rathborn
Now James with the rebound, reaching in ahead of Jokic.
Embiid whistled and takes a tumble, he wants a foul, no call! The boos ring loud in the Bercy Arena.
Timeout called before Serbia spread the court.
Micic bringing it down the court and fronting up with Embiid.
But here’s the battle we all wanted to see: James defending Jokic and he forces up an air ball . But the the next possession for the Serbians is just beautiful basketballl with Dobric finding a three from the corner.
A great impression of Curry, yet the Warriors guard replies immediately with his own rainbow. The pace has picked up here.
Olympic basketball: USA 53-62 Serbia – Q3 6:11
21:10 , Jack Rathborn
Petrusev wrestling with Curry and he wriggles clear before handing off to Jokic.
The big man has a wonderful range of passing, too, Dobric gets the ball quickly and puts up the three. Serbia keep pulling away with this long game.
Now Curry tumbles out of bounds, the chemistry with Embiid just isn’t there.
Olympic basketball: USA 49-59 Serbia – Q3 7:20
21:07 , Jack Rathborn
LeBron to the line as we start this second half.
The first goes, but the second free throw bobbles around before dropping outside the basket.
Bogdanovic is still banging his head furiously after making buckets. The three fingers to his head as he gallops back on defence illustrate the mood in the Serbia camp.
He has 15 points and 6-11 on shooting.
Olympic basketball: USA 43-54 Serbia
20:51 , Jack Rathborn
Well then, USA have some talking to do at the break, Serbia up 11 points and suddenly able to dream of a final against France.
One of the biggest halves of Jokic’s career. The three-time MVP could advance to a winnable Olympic final and take the scalp of the USA in the next hour.
What would that do for his legacy? Already an all-time great, but Jokic guiding Serbia past this group of superstars would be special.
Olympic basketball: USA 43-54 Serbia – Q2 0:05
20:47 , Jack Rathborn
THREE! Curry has another, he steps back, beating his chest, scooting across the court.
But whatever he can do Avramovic can too, he has 15 points now.
And that’s a bit tasty from James, posting up Bogdanovic… spins, steps. back, bucket! Then the sass, reaching down with his palm, was he suggesting he’s too big for his opponent?
Olympic basketball: USA 32-47 Serbia – Q2 3:37
20:39 , Jack Rathborn
LeBron James dribbles up the court, launching one to Joel Embiid in the corner.
Boos for the Sixers star, given his previous talks to represent France, but that’s a magic bucket and cuts the deficit to 10 points.
Now the turnover from Serbia!
But Ant Edwards misses a wide-open three. And Serbia punish him, Petrusev with the finesse, a little floater opens up the lead once more.
The Serbians are dancing on the court tonight and the crowd crackle in delight as Bogdanovic boogies on the USA and then steps up… THREE!
Olympic basketball: USA 27-42 Serbia
20:31 , Jack Rathborn
Steve Kerr takes a swig of water. USA starting to chirp on the court.
Serbia are in a flow, three minutes into the second quarter.
No help for Curry so far, but Serbia are spreading out the points.
Eight Serbia players have scored so far.
That is some drive an the Serbian bench love this one, Jokic is dominant!
The Nuggets star has eight points, six assists and three rebounds and the drive to the bucket leaves a slew of USA bodies bouncing off his broad physique.
Olympic basketball: USA 25-34 Serbia
20:25 , Jack Rathborn
OK, this is starting to become a little bit of an issue for the USA.
Serbia moving the ball much better, Jokic the pivot and Bogdanovic able to find a rhythm shooting beyond the arc.
He’s four of five and has nine points. Now Guduric hits a three, Serbia have been deadly from range.
Olympic basketball: Steph Curry puts on shooting clinic for USA against Serbia
20:22 , Jack Rathborn
Olympic basketball: USA 23-29 Serbia
20:17 , Jack Rathborn
Points: Curry 17
Rebounds: Avranovic, Embiid 2
Assists: Holiday 3
This is frankly ridiculous from Curry. Another three, he turns away, shaking his head almost in disbelief at his own greatness.
He heads to the bench for a breather, 17 points in just over eight minutes on the court.
Olympic basketball: USA 18-23 Serbia
20:14 , Jack Rathborn
Olympic basketball: USA 15-20 Serbia
20:08 , Jack Rathborn
THREE! Curry is on fire, he drains a fourth three-pointer. He spins around and faces the USA bench before it can even touch the net.
Unconscious brilliance from Stephen Curry.
But Bogdanovic is also lethal from way out, he’s got himself a couple of three-pointers.
Both teams are lights out so far.
Olympic basketball: USA 15-13 Serbia
20:07 , Jack Rathborn
Jokic with the dunk! Serbia off to a hot start here, but so is Curry. It’s a swish, three more for the sharp-shooter.
And another! Three field goals, three buckets.
And another Milutinov replies, it’s raining buckets at the Bercy!
Oh, you thought Curry would cool off? Make that three from downtown already.
Olympic basketball: USA 2-0 Serbia
20:02 , Jack Rathborn
‘The King’ is bouncing around the hardwood, this place is alive and ready to witness greatness.
Can Jokic help Serbia to hang with USA’s group of glittering NBA stars?
We’re underway! That didn’t take long, he’d been nailing jumpers for fun in the warm-up and Curry drains a two-pointer to open things up here.
Olympic basketball: USA v Serbia
19:55 , Jack Rathborn
Loud whistles for Joel Embiid in the Bercy Arena.
The Sixers star could have played for France, after all. But he lines up with Team USA.
We’re almost ready to go. Now for the national anthems.
Olympic basketball: USA v Serbia
19:52 , Chris Wilson
We’re under 10 minutes from the tip-off in Paris – who will join hosts France in Saturday’s gold medal match?
We’ve already seen France gain revenge for a loss earlier in the tournament’s group stages, so can Serbia – led by Nikola Jokic – do the same tonight?
USA v Serbia – Olympics men’s basketball
19:50 , Jack Rathborn
LeBron James gets stitches after nasty injury in Olympic basketball quarter-final
19:45 , Chris Wilson
Team USA confirmed their place in the men’s basketball semi-finals in Paris but there was an injury scare with LeBron James forced off through injury.
He was hit in the eye by a stray elbow from Brazil’s Georginho De Paula, during the 122-87 win, which required four stitches.
“I’m alright,” he told the official Olympics website.
“I got hit with an inadvertent elbow around the eye.”
The win means they join Germany, Serbia and host nation France in the hunt for the medals in Paris.
James gets stitches after nasty injury in Olympic basketball quarter-final
LeBron James: NBA great leads USA at Paris 2024 in likely Olympics swansong
19:30 , Chris Wilson
LeBron James’ place in the pantheon of basketball legends is long-established, and a player who regularly contests debates over the greatest of all-time has very little to prove as he enters the twilight of a glittering career.
The four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP also became the leading points scorer in NBA history in February 2023, and in March of this year he became the first player to reach the milestone of 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.
The Lakers star has won two Olympic gold medals – in 2012 and in 2008 as part of the so-called “Redeem Team” – and he is hunting for another this week in what may well be his swansong with Team USA.
LeBron James: NBA great leads USA at Paris 2024 in likely Olympics swansong
Victor Wembanyama: We’re willing to spill blood on the court
19:25 , Jack Rathborn
France’s Victor Wembanyama has a cut on his neck after the semi-final win over Germany.
But the Spurs star is not bothered one bit: “In our national anthem, we talk about blood, too.
“We’re willing to spill blood on the court. It’s no big deal. If it allows us to win gold, I’m all for it.”
LeBron James makes Olympics return but Kevin Durant stars as USA open with win in Paris
19:19 , Jack Rathborn
Here’s the report from when Serbia met the USA in the group stages…
LeBron James made his Olympics return after a 12-year absence, while Kevin Durant played for the first time this summer.
And the two most-experienced Olympians on this US team opened the Paris 2024 Games — not to mention a bid for a fifth consecutive gold medal for the Americans — with a near-perfect show.
Durant made his first eight shots on the way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes, James added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the US rolled to a 110-84 win over Serbia in the Olympic opener for both teams on Saturday.
They were a combined 18 for 22 from the field — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — as the US had no trouble with the reigning World Cup silver medalists from last summer in the Philippines. Jrue Holiday scored 15, Devin Booker had 12 and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry each added 11 for the US.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 20 points for Serbia, while Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 14.
LeBron James makes Olympics return but Durant stars as USA open with win
USA v Serbia
19:12 , Jack Rathborn
I’m watching LeBron James go through his warm-up here, he’s got the plaster on the eye after needing stitches for a nasty cut.
‘The King’ is in a plain white vest and taking plenty of shots before a few words with Anthony Edwards.
Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis out here taking shots too.
How the teams got here – Serbia
19:05 , Chris Wilson
Serbia met the USA in their opening game of the tournament, but ended up losing 110-84.
They recovered to beat Puerto Rico 107-66 in their second game, and then rounded off the group stage with a 96-85 win against South Sudan.
In their quarter-final, they beat Australia 95-90, setting up a rematch with the USA.
How the teams got here – USA
18:55 , Chris Wilson
The USA started their gold medal defence with a 110-84 victory over Serbia.
In their second match, they beat South Sudan 103-86, before finishing the groups with a 104-83 win over Puerto Rico.
In the quarter-final, they beat Brazil 122-87 to set up another game against Serbia.
Basketball semi-finals: France 73-69 Germany
18:44 , Jack Rathborn
Basketball semi-finals: France 73-69 Germany
18:32 , Jack Rathborn
The sheer noise for Schroder, here, down three with 9.4 seconds ledt, he steps up with two free throws.
First one… missed it! Wild cheers ring around, but he’ll drain the next, Germany down two, 7.4 seconds remaining.
A game of nerve, who will blink first? Not France, Cordinier with two big-time free throws.
Germany turnover, Les Bleus have done it! A wild ride, but the hosts are in the final, remarkable.
They were five-point underdogs here, but the second-half wave was too much for the world champions.
Basketball semi-finals: France 71-68 Germany
18:26 , Jack Rathborn
Les Bleus can’t score… But Wagner turns it over after pressure from Fournier, a monster roar, it’s a France ball!
12 seconds remaining, such drama here, they can taste the gold medal match.
Theis fouls Wembanyama with 11 seconds remaining, France up 70-68… two free throws, he misses the first!
“Wemby, Wemby, Wemby” rings round the Bercy… One more free throw… GOT IT!
France up 71-68, Germany have 10.9 seconds, they need a three, timeout, and time for a cool head, a beautiful play, the ball game is here. Even USA assistant Erik Spoelstra is taking a peak after arriving for the late game against Serbia, he’s loving this thrilling semi-final too.
Basketball semi-finals: France 70-68 Germany
18:23 , Jack Rathborn
Schroder, two! The lead chopped to four points and now Germany want to foul.
Heaping the pressure on Lessort and two free throws… ONE! But he misses the second!
Drama here, Wagner with a clutch three, he’s been missing for so long, they’re his first points of the half.
Dirk Nowitzki just loves that one, 38 seconds remaining, France lead by two!
Basketball semi-finals: France 69-63 Germany
18:21 , Jack Rathborn
The clock is running down, the margin for error is small for Germany now.
But there’s more than 90 seconds remaining. Obst misses a scooped shot from mid-range.
France standing tall on defence. 65 seconds remaining… Timeout!
Basketball semi-finals: France 69-63 Germany
18:18 , Jack Rathborn
Here come Germany!
Andreas Obst with the big three, lead trimmed to six points, my word. The arena knows this is getting tight late on.
The world champions have 2:45 to erase this lead. Timeout and we can take a breath.
Can Wagner get back into this? He’s matching up with Wembanyama on defence, but Germany need his offence too.
Basketball semi-finals: France 69-60 Germany
18:15 , Jack Rathborn
Yabusele is getting cries of M-V-P! He’s been everywhere!
The Frenchman drains two free throws, then he stops Schroder coming under the basket for a lay-up, brushing the ball out of play.
France up by nine points with less than four minutes remaining.
Can Germany find something late?
Basketball semi-finals: France 66-55 Germany
18:12 , Chris Wilson
Jack Rathborn in Paris:
What a wild atmosphere here at Bercy Arena! Victor Wembanyama, cold for so long from three, finally gets one to go with his seventh try.
But in truth it’s not the scoring that makes ‘The Alien’ so influential. The blocking is electric, the arena has come alive after that fingertip stopped Schroder’s own three-point attempt.
The support cast, too, they’re buzzing around this giant of a man and Les Bleus can taste a gold medal match. A remarkable surge in this second half to leave the well-oiled German machine spluttering.
Basketball semi-finals: France 66-55 Germany
18:09 , Jack Rathborn
Basketball semi-finals: France 66-55 Germany
18:08 , Chris Wilson
It’s going so well for France now as Wembanyama makes a brilliant block before they go down the other end and sink a three, for the 13-point lead!
Germany reply with two points of their own but they’re running out of time in Paris – six minutes left and they trail by 11.
Basketball semi-finals: France 63-53 Germany
18:03 , Chris Wilson
Ntilikina with the early rebound to take us to 58-50, but Germany land the three to claw back some ground. They win the foul in their own D soon after, so they have a chance to get within three – they don’t take it, as France force the travel and win it back.
Wembanyama finally lands a three on his seventh attempt, and we go to 61-53!
And Lessort does brilliantly to find the gap and guide in for two! Now France have a ten-point lead!
The hosts in a commanding position with just seven minutes left in the final quarter.
Basketball semi-finals: France 56-50 Germany
17:58 , Chris Wilson
Yabusele and Cordinier have combined for 29 points so far today – they’re setting the pace for the French, with Wembanyama a handy support act!
Schroder is carrying the German effort but he needs a little more support.
We’re underway in the fourth.
Basketball semi-finals: France 56-50 Germany
17:56 , Chris Wilson
France certainly in the ascendency here, and that notion is made concrete as Fournier sinks a huge three to make it 56-50.
In defence, Lessort does enough to win back possession, but Wembanyama can’t capitalise as his shot hits the rim.
Germany’s three attempt bounces off the glass, and the third quarter ends with France up 56-50.
Basketball semi-finals: France 51-49 Germany
17:49 , Chris Wilson
Wembanyama misses his fifth three of the match so far, though he made up for it with a brilliant block on Schroder. Lessort is the next to block, but eventually Germany land the two off the rebound.
Batum’s pass is intercepted, and Germany have the chance to retake the lead – but Schroder’s three falls short.
Just over three minutes left in this period, as Schroder floats in for two to eventually take his side ahead, but Cordinier replies with a three!
Basketball semi-finals: France 48-45 Germany
17:43 , Chris Wilson
More gret finesse from Yabusele as he lands two before getting the foul. He lands the free throw for three, too.
Another huge cheer as Batum gets back in time to deny Schroder at the rim. Moments later, he lands the bucket and gets the foul to take France to 48-45.
Basketball semi-finals: France 42-42 Germany
17:40 , Chris Wilson
We’re underway in the third quarter, and we start with both sides missing opportunities before Batum lands a three to give France the lead for the first time!
Yabusele blitzes in to land a two, through Germany reply straight away, but Batum lays it up for Yabusele to score another two.
Schroder lands two to keep us level, but Yabusele again with a two!
Both sides are really trading blows here, with the points drying up for now as Wembanyama knocks it out behind the baseline.
17:32 , Chris Wilson
Basketball semi-finals: France 33-33 Germany
17:24 , Chris Wilson
Jack Rathborn at the Bercy Arena:
France will be thrilled with this, they outscored Germany by seven points in the second quarter and the noise here is deafening. Measured at 105db, that’s roughly the same noise as a power saw.
Wembanyama’s growth here is providing the spark with Cordinier weaving his way down the court. The rhythm of the game changed and Germany’s offense dried up: Just eight points in the second quarter. A live semi-final here and the tension in the arena is palpable.
Basketball semi-finals: France 20-28 Germany
16:59 , Jack Rathborn
LeBron James gets stitches after nasty injury in Olympic basketball quarter-final
14:27 , Jack Rathborn
Team USA confirmed their place in the men’s basketball semi-finals in Paris but there was an injury scare with LeBron James forced off through injury.
He was hit in the eye by a stray elbow from Brazil’s Georginho De Paula, during the 122-87 win, which required four stitches.
“I’m alright,” he told the official Olympics website. “I got hit with an inadvertent elbow around the eye.”
James gets stitches after nasty injury in Olympic basketball quarter-final
