US wins the Olympic men's basketball gold in Beijing on Sunday. [Xinhua]

The United States lived up to the expectation to put them back on the top of the world when they edged off world champions Spain 118-107 in the final of the men's basketball competitions at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday.

Kobe Bryant, the Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association, played a key role as he scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter when the whole world witnessed the redemption of the U.S. basketball.

After finishing with a bronze at the 2004 Athens Games and failure of twice attempts at the world championships in 2002 and 2006, the U.S. averaged 27.9-point winning margin to keep an unbeaten run of 8-0.

They defeated Spain twice, the defending champions Argentina and world runners-up Greece on their way to the crown to perfect their success.

The United States defeats Spain 118-107 to take the men's basketball gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday. [Xinhua]

The final scoreline was the most in the tournament and the first game both sides scored over 100 points as Spain adopted complete different approach to the game after losing 119-82 to the U.S. in the preliminary play.

They never let the Americans pull away and had a couple of chances to level the game when they cut the lead down to four points several times down the stretch.

"We had a game plan and they countered on it. Every possession counted," LeBrone James said. "I'm happy that the U.S. basketball is back to the top of the world."