Recently-traded Sixer Andre Iguodala and Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant earned gold in a game that was closer than many might have thought as the United States beat Spain, 107-100.
For the second straight Olympics, the Spanish squad gave the United States all they could handle, with the game tied late into the third quarter. But Spain - who kept it close thanks to a three-point barrage from Juan Carlos Navarro and terrific post play by Pau Gasol - couldn't keep up with a team overflowing with talent. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 30, with LeBron James putting up 19 and Kobe adding 17.
The game was won behind the three-point arc: both teams were hitting early, but didn't make any baskets from behind the line in the second half while America's stars continued to drain daggers, hitting 15 triples as opposed to only seven for Spain.
Bryant reiterated that the Olympics would be his last after the game. Philadelphia might not have had any representatives left on the American team after Iguodala - whose three minutes of court time were tarnished by a bad turnover and intentional foul that allowed the Spaniards to make it a one-point game at the half - but the entire United States squad took a trip over to the announcer's table to share the moment with Sixers' coach Doug Collins, whose 1972 team famously declined silver medals when a controversial decision led to the Soviet Union winning gold.
Stick with this StoryStream for full coverage of local athletes in the 2012 Summer Olympics.