Steph Curry leads Team USA to fifth straight gold medal in men’s basketball

PARIS — Steph Curry’s late-game heroics and a lightning-fast American transition attack denied France its storybook basketball ending Saturday night.

The United States consistently cashed in French turnovers and misses into fastbreak points and Curry scored a team-high 24 points in a 98-87 American win in the men’s basketball gold medal game.

It was their fifth straight Olympic title for the Americans.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker both scored 15 points and LeBron James added 14 for the victorious Americans.

France had closed to within 82-79 late in the fourth when Curry took charge, hitting four 3-pointers in the final three minutes as America pulled away to victory.

Curry gave the Bercy Arena fans his “night, night” taunt after the final, dagger jumper.

The four-time NBA champ Curry said the gold medal is something he’ll always cherish.

“I’ve been blessed,” the first-time Olympian Curry told NBC shortly after the game. “This ranks very high in terms of the excitement and the sense of relief in getting to the finish line.”

The NBA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter said he didn’t hesitate taking those late jumpers.

“I knew if I got to my spot … I could knock it down,” he said.

The devastating U.S. transition attack proved to be the difference as America held a 31-9 edge.

The U.S. victory also elevated the Golden State Warriors star Curry to a select club. He’s now among nine players who can boast of having a NBA championship ring, regular season MVP honor, finals MVP award and an Olympic gold medal.

That group includes Curry, his Team USA colleagues James and Durant and Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal.

Earlier in the day in the bronze medal game, Nicole Jokic’s triple double helped Serbia defeat Germany 93-83. Jokic had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as Serbia shook off its heartbreaking semifinal loss to the United States.