Things were much, much closer than everyone (myself included) anticipated but in the end the U.S. was in possession of the world's two best basketball players, and Kobe Bryant were the difference down the stretch of the 118-107 victory over Spain in the gold medal game that just wrapped up a couple of minutes ago in Beijing.
The play of the game: After seeing the U.S.'s lead cut to five points after a dunk and free throw by the spectacular Rudy Fernandez, Bryant hit a 3 from the left wing while being fouled by Fernandez (his fifth and disqualifying) and converted the free throw for a nine-point lead with 3:10 to go.
The U.S.'s defense was awful and things could have proven disastrous if not for the big shots Bryant hit down the stretch (13 points in the fourth quarter) and the numerous big plays LeBron James made at both ends of the floor.
Props to Spain, though, for playing so tough (despite playing without one of its two best players, point guard Jose Calderon who was out with an ankle injury) after losing by 37 points to the U.S. in pool play.
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