Less than 48 hours after his last-second layup helped avoid a shocking upset against South Sudan -- and on the same day he was named one of his country's two flag bearers -- LeBron James played hero again for the U.S. team. James scored the team's final five points, including a huge 3-pointer to stretch the lead to four with just over a minute to play, as the Americans held off Germany for a 92-88 win in their final tune-up ahead of the Paris Games.

The U.S. had hoped its narrow escape over the weekend would serve as a wake-up call of sorts. But it was tough sledding once again in London, this time against a German team that won the FIBA World Cup last year and is loaded with NBA talent — Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner led the way in scoring with 18 points.

Playing a 10-man rotation once again, the Americans started fast thanks to their bench, with a pair of Jrue Holiday threes sparking a 21-6 run and a 29-19 lead after the first quarter. For the second straight game, though, the U.S. offense bogged down amid tough, contested looks, and Germany took a three-point edge into the final period.

That's when James put his stamp on things yet again. LeBron scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth, going 4-for-4 from the field and adding three rebounds and an assist. He knocked down a huge 3 to make it a 90-86 game with just over a minute to go, then delivered the knockout punch with a layup on the ensuing possession.

There were some encouraging signs for the Americans, who finish their pre-Olympic tour an imperfect 5-0. Germany is among the trickiest offenses in the Olympic field, with four NBA players and 3-point shooting at just about every spot on the court. But the U.S. team held them to just 36% shooting from the field, looking far more dialed-in on defense than they did while giving up 100 points to South Sudan. The Americans also got a strong performance from Joel Embiid, who added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists as he continues to round into form. 

Still, concerns remain ahead of the U.S.'s first game of group play in Paris against Serbia. Germany overcame its poor shooting by forcing a spate of turnovers, especially a stretch in the third quarter where the Americans coughed up the ball five times in a four-minute span. Germany also outworked the U.S. on the offensive glass, tallying 16 second-chance points on the day. 

There's also the question of Kevin Durant's health: Durant missed the most recent contest as he continues to recover from a right-calf injury despite U.S. head coach Steve Kerr saying he hoped Durant would be able to get some minutes in London before the team left for France. All signs still point to Durant being a go once Olympic play begins, but nothing's for sure until rosters are finalized.

Until then, the Americans will continue to lean on their 39-year-old superstar — and if the game against Germany is any indication, he certainly seems up to the task.