In similar fashion to the group-stage meeting, the USA wore down the Argentinians in the second half before pulling away for a big win. Argentina, featuring five members of the 2004 squad who won gold in Athens, kept pace until midway through the third quarter when LeBron James and Kevin Durant powered an American spurt that effectively killed off the game, and they piled on the points down the stretch. Kobe Bryant picked up where he had left off in his 20-point second-half haul against Australia, scoring 11 points over four-and-a-half first-quarter minutes to power the USA into an 18-6 lead. Argentina replied with nine straight, bringing it back to 18-15 on a three-pointer from Andres Nocioni. The USA led 24-19 at the end of the first quarter but Luis Scola quickly cut the gap and Carlos Delfino began raining in threes to keep it close. That was James' cue to go off for a stunning seven points in 79 seconds to hand the USA a double-digit lead, 37-27. Another Delfino three and one from Leonardo Gutierrez made it 43-35 and when Ginobili had another shot from range on the buzzer, Argentina went in trailing 47-40. Manu Ginobili started the next quarter with a three-pointer to give Argentina further hope, but then Nocioni was charged with a simulation call, and the USA capitalised on the free throws and extra possession to go 51-43 clear on Tyson Chandler's tip-in. Ginobili was still battling, and he made a tough lay-up while drawing a foul on Bryant, making it 51-46 from the line. Argentina responded to a pair of three-pointers from Durant with a Nocioni three and a Ginobili lay-up that made it 59-51. But then the Americans burst into life with a 13-2 run that saw Durant score six and James seven, putting them 72-53 up and effectively out of sight. The game was over, and the Americans then started making it look easy with Carmelo Anthony shooting in three quick threes to put them 93-64 up. They broke the 100-point barrier for the fifth time in their seven Olympic contests so far when James Harden hit a three with 2:52 left in the game and there were more big shots to come from Chris Paul and Deron Williams as the USA finished 18-of-42 (43 per cent) from three-point range in the game. Durant led the USA with 19 points while James and Anthony had 18 each, James also collecting seven rebounds and seven assists. Bryant added only two to his early haul to finish with 13 points, while Paul finished with 10. The outstanding Ginobili had 18 points for Argentina, while Scola and Delfino added 15 apiece.
