Durant stars as US basketball show rolls into Olympics
LeBron James made his Olympic return after a 12-year absence, Kevin Durant played for the first time this summer.
And the two most-experienced Olympians on this US team opened the Paris Games – and their bid for a fifth straight gold medal – with a near-perfect show.
Durant made his first eight shots on the way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes, James added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the US rolled to a 110-84 win over Serbia in the Olympic opener for both teams on Sunday.
They were a combined 18 for 22 from the field as the US had no trouble with the reigning World Cup silver medallists from last summer in the Philippines.
“I was tired, I’m not going to lie to you,” Durant said.
“My lungs were getting used to that intensity of the game. But it felt good to make some shots.”
James said his 35-year-old team mate was “phenomenal”.
“It’s not a surprise. He’s an out-of-this-world talent,” James said.
Jrue Holiday scored 15, Devin Booker had 12 and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry each added 11 for the U.S.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 20 points for Serbia, while Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 14.
Next up for the Americans is a clash with a South Sudan team packed with NBL talent after the Africans also won their Olympics opener.
Bul Kuol of the Sydney Kings and Tasmania Jackjumpers’ Majok Deng saw plenty of game time in their 90-79 win over Puerto Rico.
“At our first ever Olympics, to get it done in the first game, it sets the tone for what we’re trying to do,” he said.
“No matter what tribe you’re from or what you’re facing – adversity, the war, or whatever – I think this has united us.
“Our goal is to advance to the second round. And just today was a good step. Good step forward.”
Carlik Jones led the way with 19 points in the young nation’s Olympic basketball debut.
The US and South Sudan played an exhibition in London earlier this month, which the Americans claimed 101-100.
– with AAP
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