Team Spain gave Team USA a much stiffer test than they could have ever wanted, but it wasn't enough. Team USA clinched their second straight gold medal in men's basketball on Sunday with a 107-100 victory that proved to be a nailbiter for much of the second half. Spain outscored the United States by seven points over the course of the second and third quarters, but USA pulled away in the fourth thanks to stellar play from Chris Paul and LeBron James.
It was James who capped his redemptive 2012 with a game-clinching stretch for the U.S. With Team USA up six late in the fourth, James drove to the basket for a dunk to put the team up eight. After Spain answered back on the next possession, James hit a massive step back three to put Team USA up nine points. Chris Paul put the game away for good a minute later with a twisting lay up as the shot clock expired.
James' 19 points and seven rebounds was pedestrian by his standards, and he found himself in foul trouble for a good portion of the fourth quarter. It was Kevin Durant who drove Team USA's offense, putting up 30 points on 8-18 shooting from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line.
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