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Watch: Steph Curry does the 'Nuit Nuit' after burying France
Stephen Curry. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Steph Curry does the 'Nuit Nuit' after burying France in gold-medal match

France closed to within three points late in Saturday’s gold-medal game. Then Stephen Curry closed with a three-point barrage.

The Golden State Warriors star made four three-pointers in a span of two minutes and 13 seconds late in the fourth quarter, propelling Team USA to a 98-87 win over France Saturday in Paris. Coming off his nine threes and 36 points in the semifinal win against Serbia, Curry made eight three-pointers and scored a team-high 24 points, winning his first gold medal.

While Curry hit a number of shots that felt like daggers, especially the basket with 1:14 left to give Team USA a nine-point lead, he saved his signature "Night Night" celebration until there were 35 seconds to go, answering a Victor Wembyanama three-pointer by hitting his own triple over a double team.

At the Paris Olympics, that's technically a "Nuit Nuit" celebration. But Curry's shot wasn't just the final nail in the coffin of France's gold-medal chances, it was a symbol of how Team USA won. Curry hit only one fewer three-pointer than the entire French team, which shot better on two-pointers, committed fewer turnovers and got to the line more than their American counterparts.
But Steph Curry presents an impossible problem for any defense, in the NBA or internationally. Players simply aren't supposed to be able to go 8-for-13 on shots of that difficulty level. Curry even missed his first three deep shots, meaning he closed the game on an 8-for-10 tear.

It's hard to beat Steph Curry or LeBron James in a must-win game. When they're together, it might be impossible.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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