Thanks to NBA.com and Raptors.com for the information.
Carter and Ray Allen scored 13 points apiece as the U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team staved off a France rally to win the gold medal game 85-75.
France was within four points of the Americans with less than five minutes to play, providing Team USA with an unsettling flashback to the semifinals against Lithuania. The U.S. won that game 85-83 when Lithuania missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
"Basketball has evolved. It's come a long way," Carter said. "We give respect to France and Lithuania. They pushed us to the end."
The 10-point margin of victory was the lowest ever for the United States in a gold medal victory. It was the fifth time in these Olympics that the Americans won by 15 or fewer points. In 1996 and 1992, the U.S. teams won every game by at least 22 points.
"Nobody can tell us we didn't earn it. That's what makes it even more special," said Allan Houston, who hit two three-pointers in the first half.
Lithuania beat host Australia 89-71 in the bronze medal game.
The Americans went more than nine minutes without a field goal during a slow-paced first half as officials called 18 fouls
on each team. Still, Team USA held a commanding 46-32 lead at halftime.
France went on a 16-4 run late in the second half, capped by an Antoine Rigaudeau three-pointer which cut the Americans' lead to four points, 76-72, with 4:26 left.
Team USA led 82-74 when Kevin Garnett found Carter on the baseline for his double-cluch dunk, building the U.S. lead back to 10 with 1:40 to play.
"We didn't want to make it this far to quit. If we were going to lose, we were going to go down fighting," Carter said. "I'm just lovin' it right now."
Vin Baker scored 11 points in less than 10 minutes for the U.S. Laurent Sciarra led France with 19 points and Stephane Risacher added 15.
Carter dunk dashes France's hopes
SYDNEY, Australia, Oct. 1 — Vince Carter put the game away with a double-pump reverse slam, which he followed by blowing a kiss to the crowd. Moments later, he acknowledged what had become evident at the Sydney Games: The rest of the world is getting much better at basketball.
