LONDRES (AP) — No fue paliza. Pero sí victoria. Y otro oro para Estados Unidos en el básquetbol olímpico masculino.

Con un libreto parecido al de la final de Beijing, Estados Unidos revalidó el domingo la medalla de oro al vencer 107-100 a España, en un partido reñido, en el que los ibéricos estuvieron arriba en el marcador a menos de diez minutos del final.

Kevin Durant anotó 30 puntos para encabezar a Estados Unidos, que liquidó el choque en sus minutos finales para subir a lo más alto del podio por 14ta ocasión en los 16 torneos olímpicos que ha disputado. Además, LeBron James agregó 19 unidades y Kobe Bryant totalizó 17.

"Las estadístricas individuales son lo de menos, jugamos bien como equipo y mis compañeros me ayudaron en todo el partido", dijo Durant, quien debutó en unos Juegos Olímpicos. "Es una gran sensación el poder defender a tu país en un torneo como este, fue una gran experiencia para mí"

Pau Gasol marcó 24 puntos y Juan Carlos Navarro agregó 21 por España, que al igual que en Beijing 2008 hizo un gran partido, pero de todas formas tuvo que conformarse con la medalla de plata.

"Es una derrota decepcionante por un lado, pero estamos contentos de como peleamos por 40 minutos. Tener una medalla olímpica más colgando en el cuello se siente bien", dijo Gasol. "Los tuvimos y los dejamos ir en el cuarto y ya no pudimos volver".

El bronce se lo llevó Rusia tras vencer 81-77 a Argentina.

Estados Unidos llegó a estar abajo en el periodo final 85-84 tras un enceste de Sergio Llull, con 9:30 por jugar.

Pero la respuesta de Estados Unidos fue abrumadora. Chris Paul anotó cinco puntos en fila, Durant acertó su quinto triple del encuentro y Bryant coló cuatro tantos. De un plumazo, los estadounidenses sacaron una diferencia de 10 puntos.

España ya no volvió a acercarse a menos de seis el resto del duelo.

"Estamos frustrados, esa es la verdad. Estuvimos cerca y dejamos todo lo que teníamos", dijo Rudy Fernández, quien anotó 14 puntos. "Empezando el último cuarto los teníamos nerviosos, pero son jugadores de mucha calidad y hay que estar pendientes de todos ellos, por eso creo que un poco la frustración de todos".

Con una clavada y un triple en los últimos 2:50 de juego, James completó una sensacional campaña individual al emular a Michael Jordan como los únicos jugadores en la historia que han los títulos de liga en la NBA, el más valioso de la temporada regular, el más valioso de la final y el oro olímpico.

Fue un duelo bastante parejo, similar a la de la victoria estadounidense 118-107 en Beijing.

"Estábamos molestos porque es la segunda vez que pierdes una final con ellos, que se ha escapado por errores nuestros", dijo Marc Gasol. "Nosotros tenemos buen sabor en la boca por plantarles cara, queríamos ganar".

"Tuvieron que hacer su mejor partido para poner ganarnos, pero aún estamos con ese mal sabor. Quizá en un par de días que se pase estemos más contentos por tener dos platas olímpicas", dijo el base José Manuel Calderón, quien se fue en blanco en la jornada.

Los estadounidenses cantaron victoria, aunque el nivel de calidad que desplegaron en Londres tal vez no estuvo a la altura de lo que pregonaban: que eran mejores con respecto al equipo que ganó el título de 2008 o que incluso tenían el talento para ganarle un partido al primer "Dream Team", el de 1992.

"Estoy contento de haber podido contribuir en este que es uno de los más grandes equipos de todos los tiempos", dijo Bryant, quien antes de Londres 2012 desató la polémica al afirmar que habrían podido vencer a la versión de 1992. "Sabíamos que no iba a ser fácil y no nos gusta lo fácil, así fue en 2008, los respetamos mucho porque son un gran equipo".

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