Chalk it up as a victory, the last before playing for all that matters. Team USA is headed back to its third-straight Gold Medal Game, which was expected, but the way it took care of business to get there was not.

For all of the talent Team USA boasts offensively -- the shooters, the playmakers, the athletes -- it was its defense that helped get past Spain, 82-76, in the Olympic semifinals Friday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro.

Surprising? Perhaps.

Necessary? Absolutely.

"We really needed it," Team USA center DeAndre Jordan explained to NBC Sports. "We had seen it in spurts throughout the tournament, but I feel like tonight, and (Wednesday against Argentina in the quarterfinals), were probably our best defensive games in the tournament."

It came at the right time, too. Team USA held Spain to just 39 percent shooting, and dominated the glass, 53-41. And nobody was as key than Jordan.

Jordan, who started for DeMarcus Cousins for the second-straight game, was a dominant backstop -- posting nine points, snatching 16 rebounds and recording four blocks -- while the offense sputtered at times, including leading 45-39 at half.

"We were just able to fight through it," he said to the network.

That's not to say Team USA, which never trailed in the contest, didn't have some offensive standouts. Klay Thompson scored 17 of his team-high 22 points in the first half, while Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving added crucial buckets late to have 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Team USA improved to 12-0 against Spain, which was led by big man Pau Gasol with 23 points and eight rebounds, in Olympic play.

Now comes the moment it came for. Team USA plays the winner of Australia and Serbia for the gold medal Sunday at 1:45 p.m. CST.

"It's a Game 7. The last two have been Game 7s," Jordan added. "Guys know how important this is. We want this really bad for us and for our country. So I feel like on Sunday, we'll have a full 40 minutes."