Beijing - The US basketball team ended an eight-year gold
medal drought with a 118-107 victory over Spain at the Beijing
Olympics on Sunday.
The so-called Redeem Team lived up to their billing to win their
13th Olympic Basketball title and make up for the disappointment of a
bronze finish behind Argentina and Italy four years ago in Athens.
Argentina won bronze this time around with a 87-75 win over
Lithuania in the play-off for third place.
Dwyane Wade top scored for the US with 27 points - maximum haul in
any one game in these Olympics. The victory also meant the US had
remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
James Lebron, with a triple, gave the US an early lead but Pau
Gasol responded immediately to level for Spain. And that pattern was
repeated throughout as Spain, who lost to the US in the group matches
119-82, refused to give up on gold.
But after failing in the last three world championships and
finishing third in Athens the US clung-on to beat the reigning world
champions.
US coach Mike Krzyzewski said it was a coming of age for his team
having lacked maturity to win last year's world title in Japan.
Spain were proud silver medallists in their first final since the
1984 Los Angeles Games and had 17-year-old Ricky Rubio in their ranks
- he became the youngest player to win an Olympic basketball medal.
In the first quarter they even led 22-17 at one point eventually
falling 38-31 behind. A triple from LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant
extended the lead at the start of the second quarter.
The US went 13 points clear but relaxed and allowed Spain back
into contention finishing just eight points behind at 61-69 going
into the break.
In the third quarter the gap was reduced to just four points and
the US looked to be wobbling but the gap was back up to nine points
at the end of the third quarter.
Spain closed the gap again in the final quarter reducing the
margin to just two points at 91-89, but Wade and Bryant responded
with the points to see the Americans home and dry.
USA
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