# Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

The men's basketball tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, began on 10 August and ended on 24 August, when the United States defeated Spain 118–107 for the gold medal. All games were held at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.
The United States, nicknamed the "Redeem Team", defeated Spain in the gold medal game, finishing the tournament undefeated and winning the gold medal for the first time since 2000, while Argentina, the defending Olympic champions who lost to the U.S. in the semifinals, won the bronze medal.

## Qualification

| Country | Qualified as | Date of qualification | Previous appearances | FIBA World Ranking |
| China | Olympics host | July 13, 2001 | 6 (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | 11 |
| Spain | World champion | September 3, 2006 | 10 (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004) | 3 |
| Iran | Asian champion | August 5, 2007 | 1 (1948) | 45 |
| Australia | Oceanian champion | August 22, 2007 | 11 (1956, 1964, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | 9 |
| Angola | African champion | August 25, 2007 | 4 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | 14 |
| Argentina | Americas runner-up | September 1, 2007 | 4 (1948, 1952, 1996, 2004) | 1 |
| United States | Americas champion | September 1, 2007 | 15 (1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | 2 |
| Russia | European champion | September 15, 2007 | 13 (1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) | 14 |
| Lithuania | European third place | September 16, 2007 | 4 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | 5 |
| Croatia | Wildcard qualifier | July 19, 2008 | 2 (1992, 1996) | 20 |
| Greece | Wildcard qualifier | July 19, 2008 | 3 (1952, 1996, 2004) | 6 |
| Germany | Wildcard qualifier | July 20, 2008 | 4 (1936, 1972, 1984, 1992) | 9 |

## Format

* Twelve teams are split into 2 preliminary round groups of 6 teams each. The top 4 teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage.
* Fifth-placed teams from each group are ranked 9th–10th by basis of their records.
* Sixth-placed teams from each group are ranked 11th–12th by basis of their records.
* In the quarterfinals, the matchups are as follows: A1 vs. B4, A2 vs. B3, A3 vs. B2 and A4 vs. B1.
** The eliminated teams at the quarterfinals are ranked 5th–8th by basis of their preliminary round records
* The winning teams from the quarterfinals meet in the semifinals as follows: A1/B4 vs. A3/B2 and A2/B3 vs. A4/B1.
* The winning teams from the semifinals play for the gold medal. The losing teams play for the bronze.
Ties are broken via the following the criteria, with the first option used first, all the way down to the last option:
* Head to head results
* Goal average (not the goal difference) between the tied teams
* Goal average of the tied teams for all teams in its group
All times are local Beijing Time (UTC+8).

## Preliminary round

All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8)

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lithuania | 5 | 4 | 1 | 425 | 400 | +25 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Argentina | 5 | 4 | 1 | 425 | 361 | +64 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Croatia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 399 | 380 | +19 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Australia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 457 | 405 | +52 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Russia | 5 | 1 | 4 | 387 | 406 | −19 | 6 | |
| 6 | Iran | 5 | 0 | 5 | 323 | 464 | −141 | 5 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Lithuania 1–0 Argentina
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Croatia 1–0 Australia
* 10 August 2008 09:00
* Report
| Russia | 71–49 | Iran |
| Scoring by quarter: 24–5, 14–17, 8–16, 25–11 |||
| Pts: Holden 19 Rebs: Monia 6 Asts: Savrasenko 4 | | Pts: Nikkhah 16 Rebs: Haddadi 8 Asts: Kamrani 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 10 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| Lithuania | 79–75 | Argentina |
| Scoring by quarter: 14–11, 20–19, 17–15, 28–30 |||
| Pts: Kleiza 13 Rebs: K. Lavrinovič 7 Asts: Jasikevičius 8 | | Pts: Ginobili 19 Rebs: Oberto 11 Asts: Oberto, Prigioni 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)
* 10 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| Australia | 82–97 | Croatia |
| Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 17–26, 22–26, 29–24 |||
| Pts: Nielsen 13 Rebs: Anstey 7 Asts: Barlow 3 | | Pts: Prkačin, Banić 16 Rebs: Lončar 10 Asts: Popović 5 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Eddie Rush (USA)
* 12 August 2008 09:00
* Report
| Iran | 67–99 | Lithuania |
| Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 14–31, 19–28, 14–25 |||
| Pts: Haddadi 21 Rebs: Sahakian 12 Asts: Amini 4 | | Pts: Kleiza 22 Rebs: Kleiza 8 Asts: Jasikevičius, Lukauskis, Mačiulis 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Eddie Rush (USA)
* 12 August 2008 11:15
* Report
| Croatia | 85–78 | Russia |
| Scoring by quarter: 16–17, 26–19, 18–15, 25–27 |||
| Pts: Popović 22 Rebs: Barać 7 Asts: Popović, Lončar 3 | | Pts: Kirilenko 18 Rebs: Kirilenko 6 Asts: Kirilenko, Bikov 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)
* 12 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| Argentina | 85–68 | Australia |
| Scoring by quarter: 23–11, 16–18, 24–17, 22–22 |||
| Pts: Ginobili 21 Rebs: Nocioni 8 Asts: Ginobili 7 | | Pts: Mills 22 Rebs: Andersen 6 Asts: Bogut, Bruton 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 14 August 2008 11:15
* Report
| Australia | 106–68 | Iran |
| Scoring by quarter: 28–15, 25–14, 22–19, 31–20 |||
| Pts: Newley 24 Rebs: Bogut 7 Asts: Mills, Worthington, Bruton 5 | | Pts: Nikkhah 23 Rebs: Haddadi 8 Asts: Davari 4 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)
* 14 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| Lithuania | 86–79 | Russia |
| Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 21–17, 25–21, 17–17 |||
| Pts: Kaukėnas 20 Rebs: Kleiza 11 Asts: Jasikevičius 5 | | Pts: Holden 25 Rebs: Khriapa 9 Asts: Kirilenko 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 14 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| Argentina | 77–53 | Croatia |
| Scoring by quarter: 21–13, 19–9, 19–16, 18–15 |||
| Pts: Nocioni 18 Rebs: Nocioni 8 Asts: Ginobili 8 | | Pts: Tomas, Banić 9 Rebs: Banić 6 Asts: Ukić 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Juan Carlos Arteaga (ESP)
* 16 August 2008 11:15
* Report
| Russia | 80–95 | Australia |
| Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 17–22, 22–20, 25–26 |||
| Pts: Khriapa 21 Rebs: Khriapa 9 Asts: Holden 6 | | Pts: Bogut, Bruton 22 Rebs: Bogut 8 Asts: Bruton 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
* 16 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Croatia | 73–86 | Lithuania |
| Scoring by quarter: 15–13, 30–29, 17–16, 11–28 |||
| Pts: Ukić 13 Rebs: Banić 7 Asts: Kus 3 | | Pts: Lukauskis 20 Rebs: K. Lavrinovič 7 Asts: Jasikevičius 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)
* 16 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| Iran | 82–97 | Argentina |
| Scoring by quarter: 14–19, 19–23, 24–30, 25–25 |||
| Pts: Haddadi 21 Rebs: Haddadi 16 Asts: Kamrani 4 | | Pts: Ginobili 32 Rebs: Scola 7 Asts: Prigioni 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 18 August 2008 09:00
* Report
| Iran | 57–91 | Croatia |
| Scoring by quarter: 8–19, 8–35, 23–16, 18–21 |||
| Pts: Nikkhah 25 Rebs: Haddadi 15 Asts: Haddadi 2 | | Pts: Rozić, Tomas 16 Rebs: Lončar, Barać 7 Asts: Ukić 8 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
* 18 August 2008 11:15
* Report
| Australia | 106–75 | Lithuania |
| Scoring by quarter: 28–14, 27–15, 20–22, 31–24 |||
| Pts: Bogut 23 Rebs: Mills 4 Asts: Anstey 4 | | Pts: K. Lavrinovič 14 Rebs: K. Lavrinovič 8 Asts: Jasikevičius 5 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 18 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| Argentina | 91–79 | Russia |
| Scoring by quarter: 27–16, 18–23, 27–25, 19–15 |||
| Pts: Scola 37 Rebs: Nocioni 9 Asts: Prigioni 10 | | Pts: Kirilenko 23 Rebs: Kirilenko 9 Asts: Holden 5 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 515 | 354 | +161 | 10 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 1 | 418 | 369 | +49 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Greece | 5 | 3 | 2 | 415 | 375 | +40 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | China (H) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 366 | 400 | −34 | 7 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Germany | 5 | 1 | 4 | 330 | 390 | −60 | 6 | |
| 6 | Angola | 5 | 0 | 5 | 321 | 477 | −156 | 5 | |
* 10 August 2008 11:15
* Report
| Germany | 95–66 | Angola |
| Scoring by quarter: 25–21, 29–13, 24–18, 17–14 |||
| Pts: Kaman 24 Rebs: Jagla 11 Asts: Hamann 4 | | Pts: Mingas 24 Rebs: Gomes 8 Asts: Cipriano 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (LTU)
* 10 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Spain | 81–66 | Greece |
| Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 15–13, 27–17, 19–20 |||
| Pts: Fernández 16 Rebs: P. Gasol 7 Asts: Navarro, Rodríguez 2 | | Pts: Spanoulis 15 Rebs: Tsartsaris 8 Asts: Diamantidis 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Reynaldo Mercedes (DOM)
* 10 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| United States | 101–70 | China |
| Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 29–21, 25–11, 27–22 |||
| Pts: Wade 19 Rebs: Bosh 8 Asts: Paul 6 | | Pts: Yao 13 Rebs: Yao 10 Asts: Chen, Liu, Zhu, Sun 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
* 12 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Greece | 87–64 | Germany |
| Scoring by quarter: 21–23, 23–10, 25–15, 18–16 |||
| Pts: Spanoulis 23 Rebs: Bourousis 8 Asts: Spanoulis 5 | | Pts: Nowitzki 13 Rebs: Nowitzki 6 Asts: Greene 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
* 12 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| China | 75–85 (OT) | Spain |
| Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 28–17, 15–10, 11–25, Overtime: 3–13 |||
| Pts: Liu 19 Rebs: Yao, Yi 9 Asts: Yao, Sun 3 | | Pts: P. Gasol 29 Rebs: P. Gasol, Fernández 8 Asts: Fernández 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: José Carrión (PUR)
* 12 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| Angola | 76–97 | United States |
| Scoring by quarter: 18–29, 19–26, 16–26, 23–16 |||
| Pts: Morais 24 Rebs: Gomes 8 Asts: Costa, Ambrosio 2 | | Pts: Wade 19 Rebs: Anthony 6 Asts: James 5 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Pablo Estévez (ARG)
* 14 August 2008 09:00
* Report
| Germany | 59–72 | Spain |
| Scoring by quarter: 15–12, 21–27, 12–20, 11–13 |||
| Pts: Hamann 15 Rebs: Kaman 10 Asts: Hamann 3 | | Pts: Calderón 15 Rebs: M. Gasol 8 Asts: P. Gasol, Rubio 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Fabio Facchini (ITA)
* 14 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Angola | 68–85 | China |
| Scoring by quarter: 15–28, 27–16, 9–21, 17–20 |||
| Pts: Gomes 17 Rebs: Mingas 5 Asts: Gomes 3 | | Pts: Yao 30 Rebs: Yi 11 Asts: Zhu, Li 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
* 14 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| United States | 92–69 | Greece |
| Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 31–16, 23–22, 18–15 |||
| Pts: Bryant, Bosh 18 Rebs: James, Howard, Anthony 6 Asts: James 6 | | Pts: Papaloukas 15 Rebs: Fotsis, Papaloukas 8 Asts: Diamantidis 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (LTU)
* 16 August 2008 09:00
* Report
| Greece | 102–61 | Angola |
| Scoring by quarter: 12–11, 31–17, 38–14, 21–19 |||
| Pts: Bourousis 22 Rebs: Glyniadakis, Fotsis 7 Asts: Fotsis 5 | | Pts: Mingas 25 Rebs: Geronimo 7 Asts: Costa 4 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: José Carrión (PUR)
* 16 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| China | 59–55 | Germany |
| Scoring by quarter: 19–9, 8–22, 20–8, 12–16 |||
| Pts: Yao 25 Rebs: Yao, Yi 11 Asts: Liu 3 | | Pts: Nowitzki 24 Rebs: Nowitzki 17 Asts: Hamann, Garrett 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Eddie Rush (USA)
* 16 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| Spain | 82–119 | United States |
| Scoring by quarter: 22–31, 23–30, 18–25, 19–33 |||
| Pts: Reyes 19 Rebs: Reyes 8 Asts: Fernández, Rubio 3 | | Pts: James 18 Rebs: Bosh 7 Asts: James, Paul 8 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (LTU)
* 18 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Greece | 91–77 | China |
| Scoring by quarter: 27–15, 19–9, 23–30, 22–23 |||
| Pts: Bourousis, Spanoulis 19 Rebs: Bourousis 19 Asts: Papaloukas, Spanoulis 5 | | Pts: Yao 16 Rebs: Wang 8 Asts: Sun 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Cristiano Maranho (BRA)
* 18 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| Angola | 50–98 | Spain |
| Scoring by quarter: 23–15, 7–25, 11–31, 9–27 |||
| Pts: Mingas 10 Rebs: Mingas, Ambrosio 5 Asts: Costa 5 | | Pts: P. Gasol 31 Rebs: P. Gasol 9 Asts: Rodríguez, Rubio 5 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Eddie Rush (USA)
* 18 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| United States | 106–57 | Germany |
| Scoring by quarter: 31–12, 22–17, 30–17, 23–11 |||
| Pts: Howard 22 Rebs: Howard 10 Asts: Williams 5 | | Pts: Nowitzki 14 Rebs: Nowitzki 8 Asts: Hamann, Jagla 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Juan Carlos Arteaga (ESP)

## Knockout round

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| A1 | Lithuania | 94 | | | | | | |
| B4 | China | 68 | | | | | | |
| B4 | China | 68 | A1 | Lithuania | 86 | | | |
| | | | B2 | Spain | 91 | | | |
| B2 | Spain | 72 | B2 | Spain | 91 | | | |
| A3 | Croatia | 59 | | | | | | |
| A3 | Croatia | 59 | | | | B2 | Spain | 107 |
| | | | | | | B1 | United States | 118 |
| B1 | United States | 116 | | | | | | | B1 | United States | 118 |
| A4 | Australia | 85 | | | |
| A4 | Australia | 85 | B1 | United States | 101 | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game |
| | | | A2 | Argentina | 81 |
| A2 | Argentina | 80 | A2 | Argentina | 81 | A1 | Lithuania | 75 |
| B3 | Greece | 78 | | | | A2 | Argentina | 87 |

### Quarterfinals

* 20 August 2008 14:30
* Report
| Spain | Croatia |
| Scoring by quarter: 22–11, 15–15, 14–12, 21–21 |||
| Scoring by half: 37–26, 35–33 |||
| Pts: P. Gasol 20 Rebs: P. Gasol 10 Asts: Calderón, P. Gasol 2 | Pts: Banić 15 Rebs: Banić, Planinić 5 Asts: Kus, Nicević 2 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Zavlanos (GRE)
* 20 August 2008 16:45
* Report
| Lithuania | China |
| Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 22–13, 29–23, 24–15 |||
| Scoring by half: 41–30, 53–38 |||
| Pts: Jasikevičius 23 Rebs: Kleiza 7 Asts: Jasikevičius 6 | Pts: Yao 19 Rebs: Yi 9 Asts: Yao 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 20 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| United States | Australia |
| Scoring by quarter: 25–24, 30–19, 34–18, 27–24 |||
| Scoring by half: 55–43, 61–42 |||
| Pts: Bryant 25 Rebs: James 9 Asts: James, Paul, Wade, Williams 3 | Pts: Mills 20 Rebs: Worthington 6 Asts: Newley 3 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Juan Carlos Arteaga (ESP)
* 20 August 2008 22:15
* Report
| Argentina | Greece |
| Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 17–17, 17–15, 24–23 |||
| Scoring by half: 39–40, 41–38 |||
| Pts: Ginobili 24 Rebs: Scola 8 Asts: Prigioni 3 | Pts: Fotsis 17 Rebs: Fotsis 10 Asts: Papaloukas 4 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (LTU)

### Semifinals

* 22 August 2008 20:00
* Report
| Spain | Lithuania |
| Scoring by quarter: 21–19, 19–23, 22–24, 29–20 |||
| Scoring by half: 40–42, 51–44 |||
| Pts: P Gasol 19 Rebs: Jiménez 7 Asts: Rubio 4 | Pts: Jasaitis, Jasikevičius 19 Rebs: Jasaitis 8 Asts: Jasikevičius 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Nikolaos Pitsilkas (GRE)
* 22 August 2008 22:00
* Report
| Argentina | United States |
| Scoring by quarter: 11–30, 29–19, 24–29, 17–23 |||
| Scoring by half: 40–49, 41–52 |||
| Pts: Scola 28 Rebs: Scola 11 Asts: Prigioni 3 | Pts: Anthony 21 Rebs: Bosh 10 Asts: Kidd 7 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Luigi Lamonica (ITA)

### Bronze medal match

* 24 August 2008 12:00
* Report
| Lithuania | Argentina |
| Scoring by quarter: 21–24, 13–22, 15–22, 26–19 |||
| Scoring by half: 34–46, 41–41 |||
| Pts: Šiškauskas 15 Rebs: Šiškauskas, K. Lavrinovič 6 Asts: Jasikevičius 3 | Pts: Delfino 20 Rebs: Delfino 10 Asts: Prigioni 7 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Eddie Rush (USA)

### Gold medal match

* 24 August 2008 14:00
* Report
| Spain | United States |
| Scoring by quarter: 31–38, 30–31, 21–22, 25–27 |||
| Scoring by half: 61–69, 46–49 |||
| Pts: Fernández 22 Rebs: Reyes 7 Asts: Navarro 4 | Pts: Wade 27 Rebs: Bosh 7 Asts: Bryant 6 |
* Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing Attendance: 11,083 Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (LTU), Pablo Estévez (ARG), Carl Jungebrand (FIN)
Team details :
| Spain | United States |
| F | 4 | Pau Gasol |
| PG | 6 | Ricky Rubio |
| G | 7 | Juan C. Navarro |
| F | 9 | Felipe Reyes |
| SF | 10 | Carlos Jiménez (c) |
| G | 5 | Rudy Fernández |
| PG | 11 | Raül López |
| SG | 12 | Berni Rodríguez |
| C | 13 | Marc Gasol |
| SF | 14 | Álex Mumbrú |
| PF | 15 | Jorge Garbajosa |
| Head Coach: ||
| Aíto García Reneses ||
| G | 5 | Jason Kidd |
| F | 6 | LeBron James |
| G | 10 | Kobe Bryant (c) |
| C | 11 | Dwight Howard |
| F | 15 | Carmelo Anthony |
| F | 4 | Carlos Boozer |
| G | 7 | Deron Williams |
| G | 8 | Michael Redd |
| G | 9 | Dwyane Wade |
| F | 12 | Chris Bosh |
| G | 13 | Chris Paul |
| F | 14 | Tayshaun Prince |
| Head Coach: ||
| Mike Krzyzewski ||
The Americans got off to a slow start with the Spaniards hitting seven of their first nine shots; if not for a 10–0 run by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the Americans would have trailed in the first quarter. With the USA leading by 14, Spain chipped away at the lead during the second quarter to cut the deficit to eight points.
The teams traded baskets in the third quarter, with Spain cutting the deficit further to seven. A three-point field goal by Rudy Fernández cut the lead into two, the smallest deficit with 8:13 left in the fourth. Kobe Bryant and Wade extended the lead with three-pointers to 103–92 but Spain had a final push, capped with another three-pointer from Carlos Jiménez to reduce the lead to 108–104. In the final two minutes a three-pointer by Dwyane Wade and a Kobe Bryant field goal extended the lead back to 9. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball games ever played.

## Awards

* 2008 Olympic Basketball Champions
* United States Thirteenth title

## Statistical leaders

Top ten in points, rebounds and assists, and top 5 in steals and blocks.

### Game highs

| Department | Name | Total | Opponent |
| Points | Luis Scola | 37 | Russia |
| Rebounds | Dirk Nowitzki | 17 | China |
| Assists | Pablo Prigioni | 10 | Russia |
| Steals | Andrei Kirilenko Dwyane Wade | 6 | Lithuania Greece |
| Blocks | Hamed Haddadi Kšyštof Lavrinovič Yao Ming | 4 | Lithuania Argentina Angola |
| Field goal percentage | Ioannis Bouroussis | 100% (9/9) | Angola |
| 3-point field goal percentage | Viktor Khriapa Dirk Nowitzki | 100% (6/6) | Australia Angola |
| Free throw percentage | Carmelo Anthony | 100% (13/13) | Argentina |
| Turnovers | Carlos Morais | 10 | United States |

## Final standings

Rankings are determined by:
* 1st–4th
** Results of gold and bronze medal games.
* 5th–8th:
** Win–loss record in the preliminary round group
** Standings in the preliminary round group (i.e. Group A's #3 is ranked higher than Group B's #4.)
** Goal average in the preliminary round group
* 9th–10th and 11th–12th:
** 5th placers in the preliminary round groups are classified 9th–10th; 6th placers classified *11th–12th
** Win–loss record in the preliminary round group
** Goal average in the preliminary round group
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Standing | GAvg | New rank |
| | United States | 8 | 8 | 0 | 850 | 627 | +223 | | | 2 |
| | Spain | 8 | 6 | 2 | 688 | 632 | +56 | | | 3 |
| | Argentina | 8 | 6 | 2 | 673 | 615 | +58 | | | 1 |
| 4th | Lithuania | 8 | 5 | 3 | 680 | 646 | +34 | | | 6 |
| Eliminated at the quarterfinals |||||||||||
| 5th | Greece | 6 | 3 | 3 | 493 | 455 | +38 | B-3rd | 1.117 | 4 |
| 6th | Croatia | 6 | 3 | 3 | 458 | 452 | +6 | A-3rd | 1.050 | 18 |
| 7th | Australia | 6 | 3 | 3 | 542 | 521 | +21 | A-4th | | 9 |
| 8th | China | 6 | 2 | 4 | 434 | 494 | −60 | | | 10 |
| Preliminary round 5th placers |||||||||||
| 9th | Russia | 5 | 1 | 4 | 387 | 406 | −19 | – | 0.953 | 15 |
| 10th | Germany | 5 | 1 | 4 | 330 | 390 | −60 | – | 0.846 | 7 |
| Preliminary round 6th placers |||||||||||
| 11th | Iran | 5 | 0 | 5 | 323 | 464 | −141 | – | 0.696 | 23 |
| 12th | Angola | 5 | 0 | 5 | 321 | 477 | −156 | – | 0.673 | 12 |