The US won the gold medal in Olympic men’s basketball yesterday with a 118-107 victory over Spain.
Culminating a three-year mission to end years of embarrassment, the US Olympic team survived a huge challenge from Spain.
After overwhelming everyone for seven games, the Americans led by only four points with under two-and-a-half minutes to play, then proved they could handle the close game that seemed would never come in Beijing.
PHOTO: AFP
Their prize was the first US gold medal since the 2000 Olympics.
“Much respect to Spain, but the US is back on top again,” LeBron James said.
Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for the Americans, who found a much gamer Spanish team than the one they humiliated by 37 points earlier in the tournament. Kobe Bryant added 20.
In a game so devoid of defense that it felt more like an NBA All-Star game than one with a title at stake, the Americans had too much offense down the stretch. Bryant converted a clutch four-point play with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining, holding his finger to his lips to quiet the rowdy Spanish crowd behind the basket.
Wade added another three-pointer that made it 111-104 with just over two minutes left and only then could the Americans relax a little.
They began to celebrate during a break after some technical fouls on Spain with 26 seconds left, then celebrated in the middle of the court when it was over with Born in the USA blaring out over the arena’s speakers.
“I’m proud of our guys. We played with great character in one of the great games in international basketball history, I think,” US coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Nobody else had been close to the Americans in Beijing. This team’s only Olympic competition had been history, in a Dream match-up with guys named Jordan, Magic, Bird and the rest of the US team that dominated the Barcelona Games in 1992.
Forget comparisons to those guys. The Americans were lucky to be better than Spain yesterday.
Rudy Fernandez scored 22 points and Pau Gasol had 21 for the Spanish, the reigning world champions who were hoping to win their first Olympic gold.
US players appreciated the game Spain gave them. After the contest, they hugged the Spanish players. Bryant had an especially long embrace for Gasol, patting his Los Angeles Lakers teammate on the back.
Seeming to appreciate the moment, after congratulating Spain, the team joined in a circle, jumping up and down at center court and waving triumphantly to the crowd as Krzyzewski applauded on the sidelines.
The Americans had won their first seven games by an average 30.3 points, including a 119-82 rout of Spain. But they never had control of this game, giving up open looks from the perimeter and plenty of points in the paint.
But Bryant, who waited so long to finally wear the red, white and blue, hit two three-pointers in a big fourth quarter to add the gold medal to the only piece of hoops hardware he did not already own.
James scored 14 points, while Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul had 13 apiece.
Argentina won the bronze with an 87-75 victory over Lithuania.
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