Wade leads US to bronze medal

America's NBA All-Stars stepped up and took charge, leading the US to a 96-81 win over Argentina in the bronze medal game at the World Championship yesterday.

Co-captains LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony made sure the US 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 US cause while Denver's Anthony chipped in with 15.

"There's no question we lost the gold," Wade told reporters. "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 next Olympics.

Still the US declared their performance a success and immediately set their sights on qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Games.

"To lose to Greece is not a blow," said US coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"What we're trying to do is build a basketball programme for our country that's never been done."