Team USA wins gold for the second straight Olympics.

This game, just like the one at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, wasn't easy for the Americans.

NBA finals rivals, Lebron James and Kevin Durant,  lead the way for team U.S.A in the most important game of all, they defeated Spain 107 to 100.   Durant scored 30 points and kept the United States in the game every time Spain was about to take the lead,  James had 17 points, 7 rebounds & 4 assists,  but saved his best for last.  Pau Gasol finished with 24 points & Juan Carlos Navarro had 21.

The first quarter had both teams on fire from behind the three point arc, Juan Carlos Navarro was hitting just about everything he shot and Kevin Durant & Kobe Bryant weren't backing down.  Team U.S.A ended up with a 35-27 lead after the first 10 minutes.

The second quarter featured more amazing shooting by team U.S.A, however, Spain used their height to pound the ball down low, forcing USA to commit a lot of fouls and didn't let them get in those incredible runs they had in the previous games and that had them a little bit frustrated.  Spain fell behind by a single point after the 1st half.  Juan Carlos Navarro carried Spain scoring 19 points at the half.

Pau Gasol dominated the third period, he was determined to give his team the win, he scored 15 of Spain's 24 third quarter points, however, Spain couldn't go to the 4th quarter with a lead, after all of that USA kept that one point lead they got at the half.   Durant was responsible of keeping them in the game.

Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Lebron James were responsible for getting the win, a three pointer and a layup by Paul and another layup by James let team USA breathe and get a quick 7 point lead while Spain had Pau Gasol was on the bench.  While Spain tried to get close, Durant made sure that wasn't happening, his three gave them a 7 point lead again and Bryant's banker extended that lead to 10.

Gasol and Spain still had a small opportunity of closing the gap, but James hit a three  with 2:50 left in the game that put them away for good. Spain put up and incredible fight and never stopped playing hard, team U.S.A just had amazing depth and it was just too much to overcome, they  converted every timely shot.

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2012 London Olympics Individual leaders.

The 2012 London Olympics have been full of excitement, buzzer beating shots, blowout and even some historic performances, However, there are some players in particular that showed they belong in a different class than all the rest.

Scoring leaders  

1. Pau Gasol   (SPA)            20. 6 PPG

2. Patty Mills   (AUS)           20.2  PPG
3. Luis Scola    (ARG)          20.2  PPG
4. Emanuel Ginobili  (ARG)   20.0 PPG
5. Kevin Durant       (USA)   18.6   PPG

Rebounds 

1. Yi Jianlian             (CHI)    10.2 RPG

2. Salah Mejri          (TUN)   10.0 RPG

3. Ike Diogu             (NIG)    9.0 RPG

4. Ben Romdhane      (TUN)  8.6 RPG

5. Anderson Varejao   (BRA)  7.4  RPG

Assists

1. Marcelinho Huertas         (BRA)  6.2 APG

2. Pablo Prigioni                 (ARG)   6.0 APG

3. Sarunas Jasikevicius        (LIT)     5.8 APG

4. Chris Paul                      (USA)    5.8 APG

5. Deron Williams              (USA)     5.6 APG

Steals 

1.  Chris Paul               (USA)   2.2 APG

2.  Emanuel Ginobili    (ARG)    2.0 APG

3.  Andrei Kirilenko    (RUS)     2.0 APG

4.  Al Farouq Aminu    (NIG)    2.0 APG

5.  Matt Nielsen          (AUS)    2.0 APG

Blocks

1.  Salah Mejri     (TUN)     3.4 BPG

2.  Yi Jianlian        (CHI)      2.2 BPG

3.  Serge Ibaka     (SPA)     1.8 BPG 

4.  Nicolas Batum (FRA)     1.6 BPG

5.  Kevin Seraphin (FRA)    1.6 BPG

Credit:  London 2012 Website

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USA Basketball announced its 12-man roster.

Jerry Colangelo, president of USA Basketball,  announced the final roster that will be representing the Americans in this year London Olympics.

The roster includes: Lebron James (Miami Heat) Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook  & James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Chris Paul and Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Carmelo Anthony & Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks),  Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers) & Deron Williams (Nets)

Some of the names not included on the team are Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh ( Miami Heat), Derrick Rose (Bulls), Dwight Howard (Orlando) all of them couldn't participate due to injuries.

This version of team USA has 5 members of the Olympic team that won the gold medial in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Deron Williams, Chris Paul & Carmelo Anthony) 5 other members from the 2010 team that also won the gold medial in the World Championships in Turkey (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler & Andre Iguodala) & two new members without any experience internationally (James Harden and Blake Griffin)

Despite the tough opponents in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and France, team USA is expected to win the gold medal again and go undefeated,  anything other than that would be disappointing.

Source:  USA Basketball

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