SAITAMA, Japan, Sept 2 - America's NBA All-Stars stepped up and took charge, leading the U.S. to a 96-81 win over Argentina in the bronze medal game at the world basketball championship on Saturday.

Co-captains LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony made sure the U.S. would not make the long flight home empty handed after a crushing semi-final defeat by to Greece 24 hours earlier.

Wade, who led the Miami Heat to their first NBA title earning final MVP honours, poured in a game-high 32 points, that included a pair of rim-rattling dunks that brought the large crowd at the Super Arena to their feet.

James, the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star, contributed 22 points to the U.S. cause while Denver Nuggets Anthony chipped in with 15.

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 2008 Olympics.

The Olympic champions Argentina scored the opening basket in a physical contest and never trailed until Anthony hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in the second quarter to give the U.S. a 50-49 lead heading into the intermission.

In the third quarter, the U.S. steadily built a seven point cushion then raced away in the final 10 minutes with a dazzling display of dunks.

Spain and Greece will meet in the final on Sunday.