This is an accepted version of this page The men's national basketball team of the United States won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

They finished the tournament with a perfect 8–0 record, defeating opponents by an average of 32 points while trailing in the fourth quarter only once.

The team set an Olympic single-game record with 156 points scored against Nigeria in the preliminary round.

The 2012 team consisted of returning 2008 Olympic gold medal winners small forwards LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams, and shooting guard Kobe Bryant.

In addition to Griffin, others withdrew due to injury including power forwards Chris Bosh (abdomen) and LaMarcus Aldridge (torn meniscus), point guards Derrick Rose (ACL) and Chauncey Billups, shooting guard Dwyane Wade (knee), and center Dwight Howard (back surgery).

[15][16][17] James facilitated the offense from the post and perimeter, called the defensive sets, and provided scoring when needed.

[18][19][20][21] After winning the gold, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said James "is the best player, he is the best leader and he is as smart as anybody playing the game right now".

[23] He also made 34 three-point field goals, doubling the previous United States mark of 17; Anthony (23) also surpassed the former record.

[13] Bryant was not in peak condition early, but he played himself into shape and was a key contributor in the final three games.

[13] He joined Henry Iba as the only US coaches to lead the team to consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Durant scored 22 points, and James had eight assists while taking only six shots as the US won their opening game 98–71 over France.

[9] The US was never in any real trouble, but played sloppy in the beginning, missing their first six three-point attempts and being called for 18 personal fouls in the first half.

Bryant, James and Durant finished the game a combined 6 for 12 on three-pointers, while the rest of the team shot 2 for 13.

[28] The US won in a 110–63 blowout over Tunisia, but only after Krzyzewski benched his starters—Bryant, James, Durant, Paul, and Chandler—to begin the second half.

The reserves—Love, Anthony, Iguodala, Williams and Westbrook—responded with a 21–3 run to open the half, turning a 46–33 halftime lead to a 67–36 advantage.

Six Americans scored in double figures, including Durant who had 13 points and added 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

[34] Krzyzewski defended the blowout, noting that he removed his stars in the second half, ordered a zone defense, and stopped allowing fast breaks in the opening period.

[35] Mainly a facilitator in the first three games,[20] James scored 9 of his 20 points in the final four minutes as the US came back to defeat Lithuania 99–94.

[36] Winning their first three games by an average of 52.2 points and playing so well, the team had canceled their previous two practices and rested while watching other sports instead.

The US led just 60–59 at halftime, when Durant matched Argentina's point total during a 42-point third quarter explosion by the Americans.

[38] Argentina's Luis Scola did not play in the second period, and starting point guard Pablo Prigioni sat the entire game.

They rested their starters in the fourth quarter in preparation for their quarterfinal meeting against Brazil, and a possible rematch against the Americans in the semifinals.

Bryant made six straight three-pointers in the second half and James finished with the first triple-double in US Olympic history.

[40][41] The US met Argentina for the third time in a span of 17 days in the third straight Olympic semifinal meeting between the two countries.

[41] Durant scored 19 points, while James and Anthony added 18 each as the US pulled away from Argentina in the second half for a 109–83 win.

[19][42] The Spaniards lost games to Russia and Brazil in group play and trailed the Russians by 13 points early in their semifinal win.

[43] The Olympics' own daily preview of the 2012 rematch said it would "likely take a great game from Spain and an off-day from the US to cause an upset".

The Americans led the Spanish by only one point after three quarters, but James scored on a dunk and then a three-point basket for a 102–93 lead with 1:59 to play.

[11] Spain also trailed by one after the first half, which included their guard Juan Carlos Navarro scoring 19 of his 21 points.

[13] James, who frequently guarded one of the Gasols due to the Americans' lack of big men, went to the bench with 7:23 in the game after his fourth foul before returning for the final five minutes.