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Friday, August 22, 2008

USA's players hold hands after winning a men's semifinal basketball ...
AP

USA's players hold hands after winning a men's semifinal basketball game against Argentina at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008.

(AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

BEIJING - The climb back to the top is nearly complete. One more win and U.S. basketball is golden again.

The Americans ended their streak of final four flops and Argentina's hopes of an Olympic gold-medal repeat, starting fast and finishing strong in a 101-81 semifinal victory Friday.

All that's left is what the U.S. players came for: a gold medal.

The United States scored 21 of the first 25 points, got a big break when Argentina star Manu Ginobili reinjured his left ankle, and surged into its first gold-medal game in eight years.