US win basketball gold

Hot favourites the US have won Olympic men's basketball gold by overwhelming Spain 118-107 in an epic final of hard fouls and flying elbows.

The American players were elated at the final buzzer before forming a huddle and dancing around the centre circle as chants of "USA, USA" erupted from the crowd of 18,000.

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James said: "USA is back on top again.

"Respect to Spain. They were unbelievable. We had a game plan and they countered with incredible plays.

"The game was never over. I'm watching the game all over again in my head. It will go down in history as one of the greatest."

Argentina, champions at the 2004 Athens Games, took bronze by out-muscling Lithuania in a 87-75 victory.

World champions Spain were down by as many as 14 points in the first half but pulled to within two on a Rudy Fernandez's three-pointer with 8.13sec left in the gold medal showdown.

Jolted into action, Kobe Bryant swished two huge three-pointers, putting his finger to his lips after the second which effectively made the United States' score insurmountable.

Bryant said: "What you saw today was a team.

"Everyone talks about 'arrogant' NBA players but what you saw was us facing adversity and bonding together."

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