The United States fought off a strong challenge from Spain on Sunday to win the Olympic men’s basketball gold, 20 years after the legendary Dream Team.
Kevin Durant was the hero for the Americans, top-scoring with 30 points and making nine rebounds on the way to a 107-100 victory.
"It's right there at the top. It was a good journey for us. It was just tough," Los Angeles Lakers and U.S. national team star Kobe Bryant said.
"So to be standing here at the moment having played a tough opponent in Spain, with another gold medal, it's a huge accomplishment."
The U.S. took a high-scoring first quarter 35-27 before the Spanish dragged themselves back into the match in the second quarter to go within one point of the Americans.
Spain’s top scorer Pau Gasol made 11 points in a thrilling third quarter as Spain matched the U.S. score for score and occasionally crept into the lead, before the Americans stretched their lead in the final quarter, which they won 24-18.
This year’s Olympic basketball competition may be the last to feature a full complement of NBA stars, as the league mulls a proposed rule change that would see the top stars released only for the World Cup.
