Team USA secured their third consecutive Paralympic gold medal last night, defeating Great Britain 73-69 in a nail-biting men’s wheelchair basketball final. Both teams entered the game after finishing at the top of their respective pools, and the intense, back-and-forth contest kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The victory marks USA’s third straight Paralympic title, while it was Great Britain’s first appearance in the final since 1996.
From the moment Great Britain scored the opening basket, USA responded fiercely. Both teams came out aggressively, but Great Britain’s approach may have been too forceful, as they committed four personal fouls within the first three minutes. USA capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes and found their rhythm early, shooting consistently throughout the first and second quarters. By halftime, USA had extended their lead by two points, but both teams posted similar statistics. However, Great Britain’s excessive fouling had given USA a significant advantage in free throws.
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In the second half, Great Britain attempted to close the gap on USA’s seven-point lead. Having won every third quarter at the Paris Games, they aimed to maintain that trend, but the USA broke their streak, outscoring them by three points in the period. The Americans extended their lead to 10 points before making their first substitutions with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.
Great Britain mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, winning the period by six points. Halfway through, they went on a run that put pressure on the two-time champions, forcing USA to call a timeout to regroup. The final two minutes were filled with drama—players fouling out, frantic timeouts, and crucial free throws. Great Britain’s Terry Bywater, who hadn’t played all game, hit a clutch three-pointer, narrowing the gap to just three points. However, USA’s Brian Bell responded with a critical free throw that sealed Great Britain’s fate, securing the USA’s 73-69 victory.
Despite fouling out with two minutes left, USA’s Steve Serio led his team with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jake Williams also had an outstanding performance, contributing 26 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds. On the British side, Lee Manning’s 21 points and 16 rebounds, along with Philip Pratt’s 17 points, 16 assists, and 5 rebounds, couldn’t overcome USA’s resilience.
With this victory, USA further solidified their dominance in men’s wheelchair…