It wasn’t their most dominant performance, but the United States achieved the ultimate goal by outlasting Spain 107-100 in the Olympic final to bring home the gold medal. Led by Kevin Durant’s 30 points and a few late-game buckets from LeBron James, Team USA narrowly edged a tough Spanish team that gave the Americans everything they could handle. But in the end, the best team of the London Olympics came out on top to give the United States its second straight basketball gold. 

Three-point shooting had been an issue for Team USA at times, but when it mattered the most, they brought just enough touch from beyond the arc to send their Spanish foes home with the silver. Durant knocked down five of Team USA’s 15 threes as the Americans shot just over 40 percent from downtown. In this back-and-forth, high-intensity contest, every point mattered. And when the points mattered the most, Team USA’s three alpha dogs took control. Durant dropped 30, but LeBron’s 19 and Kobe Bryant’s 17 showed the world that the Olympics weren’t the cakewalk many expected it to be for the United States. 

Despite Team USA’s brilliance on offense at times, Spain remained resilient and trailed by just one after three quarters. Pau Gasol led the way with 24 points and Jose Navarro followed up with 21, but the Spanish couldn’t dominate the paint like they needed to pull off the upset. After being called undersized and exposed for their lack of post players, Team USA actually outrebounded Spain 36-33 and grabbed 12 offensive boards to extend their offensive possessions. Until its waning moments though, it looked like anyone’s game. 

Marc Gasol had 17, Rudy Fernandez added 14 and Serge Ibaka chipped in 12 off the bench as the United States had problems slowing down the Spanish attack until the game’s last few minutes. When the big possessions came, LeBron James stepped into the spotlight as the Spanish faltered under the pressure. After Pau Gasol missed an easy look in the paint with his team down six with three minutes to play, LeBron was uncontested and unguarded as he drove to the basket and through down a demoralizing dunk that put the Americans up 99-91 with 2:48 to play. Marc Gasol answered with a dunk of his own, but then gave LeBron too much room on the perimeter and watched as the world’s best player drilled a dagger three to put the United States up 102-93 with just under two minutes left. Pau Gasol was whistled for an offensive foul on the next possession and at that point, it was clear the Americans would conquer over Spain in the second straight Olympics. 

It wasn’t the convincing, Dream Team-esque Olympics many were expecting from Team USA, but the Americans proved themselves as the better team and earned their second straight gold. Spain’s size created some big matchup problems for the Americans, but their prolific offense once again led the way to victory. Whether or not this squad could take on the Dream Team is another question entirely, but for now, Team USA certainly showed everyone who the world’s best team currently is.