On final day,a fitting finale

The final score read 109-83,in favour of the Americans,who advanced to their latest gold medal contest,on Sunday against a familiar foe. Before the United States could worry about that rematch with Spain for the chance to repeat as Olympic champion,it had to dispatch Argentina,the one team that seemed capable of fraying its nerves.

Instead,Team USA banished Argentina to the bronze medal game under a barrage of scoring,despite a blockbuster trade that threatened to derail the attention of interested parties like Bryant,if not USA Basketball. The Dwight Howard-Lakers trade that shook up the N.B.A. on Friday appeared to minimally affect its collection of All-Stars across the pond. The scoring helped.

Youve got three scorers on this team that can get blistering hot if we make two shots in a row, Bryant said. Its crazy. Ive never seen anything like it. All of a sudden,its like the floodgates open. A 10-point lead turns into 20 very,very quickly.

On Friday,on the first leg of the relay,Bryant set the pace. He received the loudest ovation from the crowd. He scored 11 points in the first five minutes and staked the United States to an 18-6 advantage out of the gate.

The assurance of another medal,the role Bryant played in another Olympic victory 8211; neither of those came close to the best thing that happened to him Friday. The star-studded basketball team known as the Los Angeles Lakers added Howard. It also kept Pau Gasol,the Spanish forward and Lakers teammate who will face Bryant again Sunday.

As far as summer weekdays go,Bryant had a good one,perhaps his best one in a long time. He said he did not needle James,the only reigning N.B.A. champion on the United States roster,about how the trade might shift the N.B.A. landscape. Asked if his international teammates seemed upset,Bryant laughed and said: Ive heard they are. We havent had those conversations yet. We have a little game to think about tonight.

The relays second leg went to James,a player for whom nothing seemed impossible this summer,except perhaps a trade for Howard to his Miami Heat.

In the second quarter against Argentina,James summoned the ball and attacked the basket. He scored four baskets in a handful of minutes. He grabbed seven rebounds and dished an equal number of assists. He slammed a dunk that was emphatic even by his standards. Durant assumed the third leg of the relay,which was appropriate,because he set the Team USA record for 3-pointers in one Olympics two games ago and broke it nine times since. Anthony ran the anchor leg. If Durant wobbled Argentina,Anthony finished the Argentines. Anthony shimmied after each made basket,his recent struggles in New York and all the blame cast his way forgotten,if only for two weeks during the Olympics.

Afterward,coach Krzyzewski noted his teams obvious offensive firepower,which resulted largely out of necessity. With only one center,the Americans flood the floor with scorers. With Chris Paul and Deron Williams feeding them the point guards combined for 13 assists and zero turnovers there is no shortage of shots,even for so many scorers to share one basketball,as four did on Friday night. NYT

Aussie women win gold

Australia beat Russia 83-74 to win the women8217;s basketball Olympic bronze medal. The victory extended Australia8217;s medals streak to five consecutive Olympics in women8217;s basketball following silver in the three previous Games and a bronze in 1996.