The U.S. wheelchair basketball team, with Marine veteran Jorge Salazar (25), celebrates their 73-69 win over Great Britain in the championship game at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

PARIS — Playing time was going to be scarce for Jorge Salazar during the wheelchair basketball Paralympics gold-medal game.

And through most of three quarters against Great Britain on Saturday night at Bercy Arena, that proved the case for the Marine veteran. Yet Salazar had an inkling his number would be called at some point.

The 34-year-old American was right, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. With 1 minute, 50 seconds left in the game and the U.S. nursing a five-point advantage, captain Steve Serio fouled out. In that moment, U.S. coach Robb Taylor turned to Salazar.

Salazar and the Americans saw out the rest of the game to defeat the British 73-69.

“I knew what my role was on the team,” Salazar said. “I had to be prepared and ready to go, so when coach called my name, I was excited and ready to go.

“I was nervous but was ready to go.”

Jorge Salazar, a Marine Corps veteran, shoots over Great Britain's Gregg Warburton in the wheelchair basketball championship game at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. The U.S. took the gold with a 73-69 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

USA's John Boie, right, and The United Kingdom's Gregg Warburton fight for a rebound in the wheelchair basketball championship game at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. The U.S. took the gold with a 73-69 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Steve Serio shoots over a Great Britain defender in the wheelchair basketball championship game at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. The U.S. took the gold with a 73-69 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

The victory sealed the U.S. program’s three consecutive Paralympic gold. It marked Salazar’s first in his debut.

The Delano, Calif., native has worked toward this goal since starting wheelchair basketball in 2013 after losing his legs below the knee during an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2012.

“It’s unreal right now; I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Salazar said. “It’s what I’ve been working so hard to do, so it’s just an amazing feeling right now.”

Trevan Jenifer of the United States shoots over Great Britain defender Peter Cusack in the wheelchair basketball championship game at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. The U.S. took the gold with a 73-69 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Salazar didn’t get a lot of playing time, first getting onto the floor with 46.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter and totaling just 4:40 in the game.

He didn’t get a point, going 0-for-2 from the field. But he provided a crucial offensive board with 27 seconds left that led to a Brian Bell mid-range jumper 8 seconds later that made it a two-possession game.

It proved vital because Great Britain’s Terry Bywater banked a 3-pointer immediately afterward to make it a three-point game.

The Americans held on from that point.

Salazar said it didn’t register how important that rebound ended up being at the time.

“It wasn’t until afterward that someone told me that (rebound) was a big deal,” Salazar said. “I was glad I was in the right position to get that rebound and dish it out.”

Jorge Salazar, a Marine Corps veteran, shows off his gold medal after the U.S. wheelchair basketball team defeated Great Britain 73-69 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Fans cheer on the U.S. wheelchair basketball team as they defeat Great Britain 73-69 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sept. 7, 2024. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Salazar isn’t going to get any time to rest or enjoy his gold medal. In five days, his professional season in Spain begins, so he’ll be headed there.

Salazar joined Albacete after three years playing in the Canary Islands.

He’s not complaining, though. Salazar has the 2028 Los Angeles Games in his sights after getting his first taste in Paris.

“I’m going to continue doing it because I plan to be in LA,” Salazar said.