Paris, 9 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The United States survived a almighty scare on Thursday as they edged Serbia 95-91 to reach the Olympic men's basketball final where they face hosts France like at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry trailed until late in the fourth quarter before turning the tide against the World Cup runners-up they had routed 110-84 in the group stage.

The US will face hosts France on Saturday after the French beat world champions Germany 73-69 in the other semi-final.

The US will be aiming for a fifth straight and 17th overall title from 20 participations, having medalled in all of them. Durant can become the first man with four golds.

"That's going to be the most-watched game, I feel like, since I've been playing in FIBA. I'm excited for it, I'm excited for that challenge, and we all are," Durant said.

US taken all the way by Serbia

Curry had 36 points, Joel Embiid 19, and James 16 along with 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Serbians paced by Bogdan Bogdanovic's 20 points and 17 from Nikola Jokic.

Durant named Curry's performance "God-like" and James spoke of "Chef Curry."

"Big-time win for us. We knew we were going to be challenged, we knew it was going to be the toughest game up to date, but it was a true total effort," James added.

Serbia led by as much as 17 points, by 11 at half-time, and again early in the fourth quarter. But James levelled at 84-84 and Curry's three-pointer put the US ahead 87-86, and they held out for the remaining two minutes.

Unlucky Serbia will play Germany for bronze in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final.

"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," Bogdanovic said.

France learn lesson from group stage

The US lost in the group stage against France in Tokyo but got their revenge in the final, with France hoping to do better now in front of what will be a partisan home crowd, which already helped them overcome a terrible start against Germany.

Guerschon Yabusele led the way with 17 points and star player Victor Wembanyama had 11 as France avenged a heavy 85-71 group stage defeat against the Germans.

"Of course, some part of a dream come true. It's a chance to write history even more. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime goal. Maybe nobody can reproduce that, so we have got to take our chance," Wembanyama said.

Germany raced off to a 12-2 lead but the match was level at a low-scoring 33-33 at the half from Wembayana and France got their first lead from Yabusele's three-pointer for 36-33 and pulled away.

Germany moved back within two but Franz Wagner then slid out of bounds with 12 seconds left after Germany had won a rebound, giving the ball back to France who held out for an emotional victory.

"I thought we did not play hard at times. But that is how it is," Wagner said.

"We did not play our best game and they have changed a lot since we last saw them. Give them credit. They made some good adjustments and won the day."

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