- Kevin Durant was a question mark to play but produced a virtuoso performance
- LeBron James also flirted with a triple-double in an impressive afternoon
Kevin Durant made a stunning return from injury and Lebron James pulled the strings for the USA men’s basketball team as they comfortably dispatched Serbia 110-84 in their opening game of the Olympics.
Durant had missed all of the Americans’ pre-Paris tuneup games with a calf injury and was in a race against time to be healthy enough for Sunday.
But the Suns star was deemed available shortly before the game and had an absolutely pristine first half after entering from the bench, as he scored 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting.
He would only score two more in the second half but it was no matter as the USA continued to build on a nine-point halftime lead, with James contributing an impressive 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as well
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds for Serbia but his team ultimately found themselves outmatched by a star-studded USA squad.
Kevin Durant had an absolutely scorching first half, as he scored 21 points off the bench
LeBron James also had a strong game and finished the game with a near triple-double
Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic added 14 for Serbia in the loss while Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards all finished in double figures as well.
The USA started the game slowly, with Serbia building a quick 10-2 lead and forcing American coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout.
However, the introduction of big man Anthony Davis for Joel Embiid coincided with a 12-2 extended run and USA seized control of the game when Durant entered late in the first.
Team USA will face South Sudan on Wednesday.
More to follow
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