<p>Still only 21 and coming off his third professional season, the Oklahoma Thunder prodigy won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award with a series of majestic performances. <br />Easing past his markers to score from a wide range of positions, Durant racked up 28 points in the final, including 20 in the first half after the hosts had taken an early 17-14 lead. <br />Durant buried one three-pointer after another to give the US a 42-32 lead at halftime and his Thunder team-mate Russel Westbrook provided excellent support with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. <br /><br />"I am happy to come home with a gold medal and I was blessed for such a coach as Coach K," said Durant, referring to US coach Mike Krzyzedwski who also steered the Americans to the 2008 Olympic gold medal. "I was put in a great position to come here and be one of the main players, I took the challenge and it was a tough task to prepare for the international game.”<br /><br />Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds. <br />Lithuania, brushed aside by the US in the other semifinal, bounced back to win the bronze medal with a 99-88 win over Serbia.</p>
<p>Still only 21 and coming off his third professional season, the Oklahoma Thunder prodigy won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award with a series of majestic performances. <br />Easing past his markers to score from a wide range of positions, Durant racked up 28 points in the final, including 20 in the first half after the hosts had taken an early 17-14 lead. <br />Durant buried one three-pointer after another to give the US a 42-32 lead at halftime and his Thunder team-mate Russel Westbrook provided excellent support with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. <br /><br />"I am happy to come home with a gold medal and I was blessed for such a coach as Coach K," said Durant, referring to US coach Mike Krzyzedwski who also steered the Americans to the 2008 Olympic gold medal. "I was put in a great position to come here and be one of the main players, I took the challenge and it was a tough task to prepare for the international game.”<br /><br />Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds. <br />Lithuania, brushed aside by the US in the other semifinal, bounced back to win the bronze medal with a 99-88 win over Serbia.</p>