Dream Team Holds Off Spain, 107-100

US men's basketball outlasts dogged underdogs
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 12, 2012 11:17 AM CDT
Dream Team Holds Off Spain, 107-100
United States' Kevin Durant is fouled as he goes up for a shot against Spain's Rudy Fernandez during the men's gold medal basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012.   (Charles Krupa)

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, LeBron James added 19, and the US men's basketball team defended its Olympic title, holding off stubborn Spain 107-100 today for the gold medal—just as the Americans did in 2008. Kobe Bryant added 17 for the US, which only led by one point after three quarters and was ahead just 97-91 when James drove the lane for a thunderous dunk and followed a miss by Spain with a 3-pointer.

In the final minute, US coach Mike Krzyzewski, in his final international game, took out his top stars who came to London determined to keep American basketball on top. When the final horn sounded, Krzyzewski locked James in a tight embrace as Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" rocked the arena. Pau Gasol scored 24 and Juan-Carlos Navarro had 21 for Spain, which had to settle for silver in the second straight Olympics. (More 2012 London Olympics stories.)

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