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2024 Paris Olympics

Devin Booker shines in Team USA’s Olympic-gold medal win over France

© Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Starting alongside four MVPs, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half and won his second Olympic gold medal with Team USA’s 98-87 win over France.

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At 27 years old, Booker can continue to build on this Olympic achievement in the future with the Olympics next coming to Los Angeles in 2028. He could eventually look to match Suns’ teammate Kevin Durant’s four gold medals, which are now an Olympic men’s basketball record.

In total, Booker finished with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting (2-of-5 from 3), six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes, also recording a +18 plus/minus, second on the team to only Stephen Curry, who ended with a team-high 24 points to go along with five assists and two steals, cashing in four 3-pointers in the last three minutes.

He was joined in the starting lineup by Curry, Durant, LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Durant had 15 points, while James was named Paris Olympics MVP and recorded 14 points and 10 assists tonight.

Booker finished the Olympics averaging 11.7 points on 56.8% shooting, 56.5% shooting from 3 and 3.3 assists in 22 minutes per game.

A summary of Booker’s performance against France:

Booker’s hot start fuels USA

Booker hit a 3 a minute into the game, as the U.S. got out to a 5-3 lead. After a monster block by James, Booker found Durant for an open 3 in transition to put the U.S. up 8-7 with 7:21 to go in the first quarter. Booker then leaked behind the defense in transition and Curry found him for an easy layup the next U.S. points. Booker’s next basket also came on a wide-open layup off an assist by James to give the U.S. a 12-11 lead with just over five minutes to go in the first half.

He subbed out with 4:12 remaining in the quarter with the score still the same and having scored seven of USA’s 12 points, also recording a rebound and assist. Team USA took a 20-15 lead into the second quarter.

Booker came back in with the U.S. down 25-24 with 7:10 to go in the second quarter and hit a 3 with just over five minutes left to put the U.S. up 29-27, becoming the first U.S. player in double figures with 10. After missing his first shot of the game on the next possession, Team USA got the offensive rebound and Booker found Curry for an open 3. After James had a nice deflection, Durant found Booker down the court for an and-one layup in transition, giving the U.S. a double-digit 46-36 lead with 1:32 to go. Booker picked up his second foul and subbed out with 1:20 left in the half.

Not only did Booker have a team-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting (2-for-2 from 3) to go along with two assist and two rebounds in only 12 minutes at halftime, his main matchup, Isaia Cordinier, went 0-for-3 from the field, after coming into the game on a hot streak.

The United States began the third quarter up 49-41, and Booker looked to continue to roll, but missed his first 3. Curry started to get going from deep with two early 3s in the quarter, and the U.S. was suddenly up 14 with just under seven minutes remaining. Booker checked out with 4:01 remaining the quarter after not recording any stats, besides his third foul.

Booker was back in to start the fourth with the United States leading 72-66. The U.S. pushed it back to double digits quickly, as Booker had three early rebounds in the quarter.

Team USA could not get the lead over 11, as France cut it back down to five, 82-77, with under four minutes remaining. Victor Wembanyama made it a three-point game with a dunk with three minutes remaining in the game. Curry responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession and then Durant hit two free throws after being fouled on a defensive rebound, putting the U.S. ahead 87-79 with 2:22 remaining.

Curry hit another 3 for the U.S. and on the very next possession, Booker found Curry for his third-straight 3-pointer to put the U.S. ahead 93-84 with 1:18 to go. Wembanyama responded with a 3 on the next possession for France, but then Curry iced the game with a step-back 3-pointer over two defenders. Booker closed the game with an easy layup in transition with 20 seconds remaining, and the United States won 98-87.

Stephen Curry hits 8 3-pointers, Team USA wins its 5th-straight gold medal with 98-87 victory over France

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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