Playing in their first final since 1996, Britain nearly snatched the gold in the closing moments when Terry Bywater drained a three-pointer with just 14 seconds left, cutting the lead to three points in front of a capacity crowd at Bercy Arena.
However, the Americans maintained their composure in the final seconds, scoring a free throw to clinch a closely contested 73-69 victory.
Jake Williams led the USA with 26 points, while Steve Serio contributed 24 points.
The American defense limited Britain’s sharp-shooting guard Gregg Warburton to 15 points, a significant drop from his 35-point performance in the semi-final win against Germany. However, Lee Manning had an outstanding game for Britain, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
With gold medals in Rio, Tokyo, and now Paris, Team USA will aim for a fourth consecutive title in front of their home fans at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
The first quarter set the physical tone for the game, with US forward Brian Bell asserting his dominance under the basket, often battling with the formidable Manning.
The Americans held a 38-31 lead at halftime, and although they extended their advantage to 10 points at times in the second half, highlighted by Serio’s behind-the-chair dribble and assist to Williams for an open two-pointer, they couldn’t completely shake off the determined British team.
Britain fought their way back into the game in the final five minutes, and despite Bywater’s bold three-pointer giving them a glimmer of hope, the USA held on for the victory.
GB captain Phil Pratt reflected on the loss, saying, “It’s tough, USA are a heck of a team. The crowds and the event has been amazing. We’ll be back. This is just the start for us.”
The USA women’s team will face the Netherlands in the gold medal match on Sunday.
