Wade hails US depth

United States shooting guard Dwyane Wade hailed the strength in depth of his country's star-studded squad as the 'Redeem Team' claimed Olympic gold with a 118-107 win over Spain in Sunday's basketball final.

Kobe Bryant showed why he is perhaps the world's best player under pressure, scoring 13 of his 20 points in the second half.

But with Bryant and fellow superstar LeBron James on the bench with two fouls midway through the opening period, it was Wade who carried his side in the first half, scoring 21 points on seven-of-nine shooting including three of five from the field.

The victory served a healthy dose of redemption for Team USA, which had not won gold since the 2000 Games in Sydney and had had disappointing campaigns in its last three international competitions.

And after the game Wade was quick to point out the key to the victory.

"We are very deep - one to 12 - it's not about the starting five, it's about all 12 guys," the Miami Heat star said.

"They say NBA players can't play together - they can."

"It's not about the name on the back of the jersey - it's the three letters on the front."

James scored 14 points and Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul added 13 apiece for Team USA, who shot a remarkable 61 percent (39 of 65) from the field to combat their 37-31 deficit on the glass against Spain's big frontline.

LA Lakers' Pau Gasol scored 21 points for the Spanish, who cut the lead to four points several times in the third before getting within a bucket in the final period of a thrilling encounter.

"I think this may be one of the greatest Olympic finals of all-time," USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo said.

"Spain played great and the job (coach Mike Krzyzewski) did, and our staff and our players was phenomenal."

"We had a mission and we got it done - we're exhilarated."

Colangelo's comments were echoed by Spain coach Aito Garcia Reneses, who hailed his players for pushing the USA so far.

"The game was spectacular," he said.

"USA have a very physically strong team and they're very quick. With our talent and desire we stayed in the game until the end."

"The match was good for basketball."

Leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the US saw Spain go on a 7-0 run to start the period - capped by a three-pointer by Rudy Fernandez to make it 91-89.

The Americans, who seemed out of sorts on both ends of the floor for much of the game, needed Bryant's killer instinct.

After fellow Lakers star Gasol cut Spain's deficit to five with 3:30 left, Bryant converted a four-point play from the left wing, nailing a shot from the arc and placing his finger over his mouth as if to personally quieten the Spanish onslaught.

The bucket only temporarily slowed Spain, who scored five straight points before another three-pointer from Wade pushed the United States' lead back up to seven with 2:03 left.

In the game for bronze, defending gold medallists Argentina went home with the bronze after posting an 87-75 victory over Lithuania.

Carlos Delfino had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Luis Scola added 16 points for the Argentinians, who played without leading scorer Manu Ginobili.

Ramunas Siskauskas scored 15 points and former Seton Hall star Rimantas Kaukenas added 14 for the normally accurate Lithuanians, who shot just six of 23 on three-pointers.