Kevin Durant returned from injury to produce a shooting masterclass as the United States launched the defense of their Olympic basketball crown with a 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday.
Durant, who missed the entirety of the USA’s Olympic build-up with a calf injury, shot a near-perfect 8-of-9 from the field to finish with 23 points in a convincing win for the reigning champions, who are eyeing a fifth straight Olympic crown.
Kevin Durant expressed his satisfaction with making some shots and acknowledged that everyone played their role well that night.
His role was to create space for the team, and he was glad to have been able to score some points. He added that it’s just basketball at the end of the day; he simply tried to follow the game plan, support his teammates on defense, and be aggressive when the ball was in his hands.
The 35-year-old Phoenix Suns ace, the all-time leader for the USA in points, points-per-game and field goals, entered the game in the first quarter with the star-studded American line-up trailing 19-14.
The 14-time NBA All-Star, a member of the USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic teams in 2012, 2016 and in Tokyo three years ago, then proceeded to take over, raining in a succession of buckets to get the Americans back on track.
LeBron James provided scoring support with 21 points, with Jrue Holiday adding 15 points and Devin Booker finishing on 12.
Denver star Nikola Jokic led the Serbia scoring with 20 points.
The USA are the overwhelming favorites for the Olympic crown and have arrived in France with a squad featuring a galaxy of NBA stars led by the likes of James, Durant and Stephen Curry.
James and Curry lavished praise on Durant after Sunday’s win.
‘KD Was Phenomenal’
LeBron James praised Kevin Durant, noting that Durant was phenomenal, and it seemed like he never missed anything.
He mentioned that if you watch Durant at practice, everything he does is at game speed, so it’s no surprise he comes out and performs well. James concluded by saying it’s good to have Durant on their side.
Durant’s former Golden State team-mate Curry was similarly effusive.
Stephen Curry remarked that Kevin Durant was unbelievable in the first half and provided a huge boost. He expressed that nothing Durant does surprises him, especially given his perfect shooting in the first half, which he deemed special.
Curry highlighted that Durant is used to this stage and is the all-time leading scorer in USA basketball history for a reason, and it was great to see him out there having fun.
The Americans face South Sudan in their second group game on Wednesday before wrapping up the first round in Lille against Puerto Rico next Saturday.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr’s squad will take some stopping when the 12-team tournament moves to Paris for the knockout rounds on August 6.
Serbia, led by three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic, made a fast start in Sunday’s clash at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, sprinting into an early 10-2 lead.
But the arrival of Durant from the bench galvanized the US line-up, and once the Americans found their shooting touch, the result was never in doubt.
Durant was welcomed into the game with a blatant body check by Vasilije Micic which sent the 6ft 11in (2.11m) 35-year-old sprawling to the hardwood.
Durant took the Serbian physicality in his stride and tormented the Europeans with an exhibition of flawless shooting to help the USA pull clear 25-20 at the end of the first quarter.
Durant put the seal on the second quarter with a superb jump shot to leave the Americans up 58-49 at the break, and the champions never looked like relinquishing their grip on the game thereafter as they motored to victory.
With AFP
