- Reuters
Dwyane Wade of the U.S. slam dunks against Argentina during their bronze medal game at the World Basketball Championships in Saitama, Japan, yesterday. The U.S. won 96-81.

SAITAMA, Japan (Reuters):

AMERICA'S NBA All-Stars stepped up and took charge, leading the U.S. to a 96-81 win over Argentina in the bronze medal game at the world basketball championship yesterday.

Co-captains LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony made sure the U.S. would not make the long flight home empty handed after a crushing semi-final defeat by Greece 24 hours earlier.

Wade, who led the Miami Heat to their first NBA title earning final MVP honours earlier this year, poured in a game-high 32 points, that included a pair of rim-rattling dunks that brought the crowd of 17,000 at Saitama Super Arena to their feet.

James, the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star, contributed 22 points to the U.S. cause while Denver Nugget Anthony chipped in with 15.

Heads high

"There's no question we lost the gold," Wade said. "But we go back with respect and our heads held high. It's a step in the right direction."

Wade added: "No matter what happened yesterday, we had to come here and win today because if we lose two, that's not good."

While bronze represents an improvement on their sixth place at the last World Championship in 2002 in Indianapolis, it falls short of their stated goal of winning the gold and an automatic berth in the 2008 Olympics.

Still the U.S. declared their performance a success and immediately set their sights on qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"To lose to Greece is not a blow," said U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski. "What we're trying to do is build a basketball programme for our country that's never been done.

"No one is ever going to win this or the Olympics every year. The talent level worldwide has skyrocketed. Hopefully our country realises the level of commitment needed to play this level of basketball."

The Olympic champions Argentina scored the opening basket in a physical contest and never trailed until Anthony hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in the second quarter to give the U.S. a 50-49 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the U.S. steadily built a seven-point cushion then raced away in the final 10 minutes with a dazzling display of dunks.

Spain and Greece will meet in the final today.