It feels like the United States is, or should be, in control of this gold medal game.

Yet France, which has not sustained rhythm on offense, is very much in this, with the U.S. leading 72-66, after three periods.

America’s transition game has been the difference, with the U.S. having a 29-8 edge in fast-break points.

The beauty of being in an Olympic city is that it’s not uncommon to see the athletes themselves mixing among the crowds. Not so the men’s U.S. basketball team.

Such is the A-list star power of this outfit that authorities had to close down an entire main road in central Paris so some players and coaches could leave their hotel.

Lakers center Anthony Davis and assistant coach Tyrone Lue were seen exiting the building while crowds of phone-wielding fans were held back by police, backed up by armed units in military fatigues and long rifles.

There are Germans, Belgians, French and other nationalities here just to catch a glimpse of NBA royalty.

“I stumbled across it too,” said Joseph Hamelin, 24, who was pressed against the police tape in a France soccer jersey. “This team is like the Avengers, they just pick all the best players and make a team from them. Since I don’t have tickets for the basketball, it’s my one opportunity to see them.”

After Kevin Durant showed off a brilliant jumper and Joel Embiid launched a full-court pass to LeBron for a slam, the USA increased its lead to 12 points.

But Victor Wembanyama quickly answered from beyond the arc, narrowing the gap to 65-56.

The French continue to feed off the energy of its passionate home crowd.

In the third quarter so far, Joel Embiid has sunk four free throws amid loud boos from the crowd. On at least two occasions, LeBron James set up Steph Curry with assists for 3-pointers, as the veteran duo expertly executes pick-and-rolls.

France's Guerschon Yabusele leads in scoring with 19 points.

The last time the U.S. men didn't win gold was 20 years ago at the 2004 Athens Games — and LeBron James was on that team too. Back then, he was a 19-year-old fresh off his NBA rookie season. Now, at 39, he's preparing to enter his 22nd NBA season this fall.

Meanwhile, four-time NBA champ Steph Curry is making his Olympic debut at 36. If the U.S. wins, he will join an elite group of just nine players in history to have won an NBA title, NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP and Olympic gold — a feat already achieved by James and Kevin Durant.

Durant, on the other hand, will aim to become the first male athlete to win four gold medals in a team sport. In Tuesday's quarterfinal win over Brazil, Durant became USA Basketball's all-time leading scorer in Olympic history.

French misses are leading to fast American points.

The U.S. leads at halftime, 49-41, on the strength of America’s edge in fast-break points, 20-6.

The French are just 3-for-16 from long distance.

Devin Booker paced the American attack with 13 points.

LeBron ... to Steph ... to Kevin Durant ... for the 3!

The sequences in this men's basketball final are ones for the books. But France is putting up a tough fight, with Victor Wembanyama putting up 13 points and Guerschon Yabusele adding 15. Yabusele closed out the first half with a buzzer-beater in the paint.

Devin Booker leads the U.S. with 13 points, while 39-year-old LeBron James continues to defy age with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

It’s good to be Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird.

The sports super couple are living it up in Paris today, attending the women’s soccer gold medal match and now a night cap of the U.S.-France championship men’s basketball game.

Also courtside for this game are Jimmy Fallon, Carmelo Anthony and Scottie Pippen.

Lin Yu-ting captured featherweight gold as she defeated Poland’s Julia Szeremeta and shook off more than a week of specious allegations that she shouldn’t have been fighting as a woman.

Lin won by unanimous decision, using her 4-inch height advantage and technical superiority to keep the Pole at bay.