Paris 2024: USA rally sets up final fling with France

The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth-quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 on Thursday and move into the Paris Olympics men's basketball gold medal final against France.

Trailing by double digits for much of the game and down 76-63 heading into the fourth quarter, the United States chances of a fifth consecutive gold were quickly dimming. Then NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry took charge, bringing a wide-eyed capacity crowd at the Bercy Arena to their feet with a furious fight back.

The US win delivered the final basketball fans wanted to see and is sure to be one of the Paris Olympics highlights as the American Dream Team takes on an inspired France on Saturday, in what will be a hostile Bercy cauldron.

Bolstered by an electric home crowd, a turbo-charged France won a 73-69 thriller over Germany.

France was led by a 17-point effort from Guerschon Yabusele while Isaia Cordinier chipped in 16, none more important than two free throws with seven seconds to play to blunt a Germany fight back and seal victory.

"I think the national team, this jersey brings to us that different energy that we can't find nowhere else," said Victor Wembanyama, the first Frenchman to be taken number one overall in the NBA draft.

"We can see how intense we've been over the last two games. It's something that we all feel as patriots. We love our jersey. We love our country," said the 7-foot, 3-inch centre.

"The will to sacrifice for the team. The will to do the next pass, to do the next play for your teammate. It was always there."

After a loss to Germany in their final group game, France came prepared for a battle and got one in a tense nail-biter that was not decided until the final seconds.

French fans arrived