MADRID -- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim called for a switch to his trademark "Orange" 2-3 zone with the United States clinging to a one-point lead.

Kevin Durant did the rest, blocking shots by Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez in the final seconds in the Americans' 86-85 victory over Spain on Sunday in a warmup game for the world championships.

"Jim Boeheim said, 'Let's go orange,'" U.S. head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "So we did. It was his suggestion and our guys did a good job with that."

Durant led the United States with 25 points.

The decision to go to the zone defense for the last play caught Spain off-guard after Derrick Rose put the Americans ahead with two free throws.

"I just wanted to cover as much ground as I could and help my teammates," said Durant, who also had 10 rebounds. "I just didn't want to foul on a 3-pointer so I stayed down and, luckily, game over."

The United States rallied after Spain -- 13 points behind after three quarters -- took a one-point lead on Juan Carlos Navarro's three-point play with 27 seconds left.

"It was one of those games that was a learning experience for us and I think we made key plays down the stretch," Durant said. "We also played as a team and stuck through tough times."

Navarro scored 20 points in the first game between the teams since the Americans won the 2008 Olympic final. It was the first loss in nine games for Spain, the defending world champion. The world championships begin Saturday in Turkey.

Spain took the lead for the first time with 90 seconds to play. Rubio's stutter step into the lane drew attention and allowed the teen point guard to feed Felipe Reyes for an easy layup and an 82-80 lead.

But Durant answered before Rose got past Rubio and avoided Marc Gasol's block to score with a one-handed shot that put the U.S. up 84-82 with 33 seconds to play.

"We made one more play than they did and that's why we won," Krzyzewski said.

Rose finished with 13 points, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and nine rebounds for the United States, 3-0 on its exhibition tour.

"I thought 'I've got to hit them,'" Rose said about his winning free throws. "Over here, people are going to remember me for this."

The U.S. travels to Athens on Monday to play Greece in its final warmup match ahead of the world championships.

"It was a great challenge and we should take this and run with it," Rose said.

Gasol had 17 points for Spain.

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I think this is gonna be a great experience for Rose. I am looking forward to the upcoming Bull season.

I love Kevin Durant. He may just be the best player in the league this year or next. He just seems to "get it".

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Maybe he can use this opportunity to conspire with a teammate to join the Bulls when their contracts end?

I agree.

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my thoughts exactly. i have this weird feeling though, that durant is not a tool.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Watching the replay of this game on NBA Tv right now...

Ricky Rubio is super talented. He can do everything except shoot consistently. His vision is Maravich/Magic like... Apparently K.Durant was most impressed with the kid's Defense. I think it was a wise decision to tell Minny to fuck off.

Team USA still looks like they're still searching for a team rhythm. Durant and Rose are prolly the 2 best players on the team right now.

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Poor FavreFan. Rondo has been sent to the bench and may not make the team.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5492343

I think we are seeing that on a level playing field that Rose is the superior player.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

UPDATE: Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday afternoon that Rondo is indeed the last cut for Team USA.

Spears also reported that Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo said Rondo withdrew because he had "some family matters to attend to and some things to take care of before the NBA season."

But TrueHoop's Henry Abbott cautions with this: "Team USA sometimes has cover stories for cut players. When they cut Gilbert Arenas years ago, they called him injured."

Here's a link to the Washington Post article Abbott referenced.

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When talking about the last cut for Team USA, most have focused on a battle between Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon and Russell Westbrook.

But after Rajon Rondo didn't see the floor against Spain, he's thinking it could be him.

"I think I'm on the bubble," Rondo said Tuesday to ESPN's Chris Sheridan. "Just looking at the obvious -- I got a DNP last game. That pretty much speaks for itself."

Additionally, the team is looking for shooters to fill out the bench -- which is why Curry and Gordon appear to have a leg up.

"It's not so much what Rajon has to show, it's what our team needs," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We've found a good lineup, and the international game is so different from the NBA game, you can ask any of these guys. Part of it is to make sure that we try not to have two non-shooters out on the court, and there's the physicality, too."

Sheridan has more on why Rondo could be the odd man out when the final cut is announced:

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Did Coach K just call Rondo a pussy with no jump shot?

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if he didnt, i am.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

The Great Satan takes on Iran today at 11:00 AM.

This should be good.

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