VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — Steve Kerr wasn’t concerned that Kevin Durant hadn’t played in a game since the Phoenix Suns’ season-ending playoff loss in April..
Durant, USA Basketball’s all-time leading Olympic scorer, made his first eight shots, including five 3-pointers, and sparked a U.S. turnaround after a sloppy, turnover-ridden start that led to a 110-84 victory Serbia in their 2024 Paris Olympics Group C opener Sunday at Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Durant missed his ninth shot early in the fourth quarter – with the U.S. ahead 86-65.
‘Obviously I coached Kevin for three years and maybe more than any player I’ve ever been around, when he comes back from a long absence, you don’t notice it,’ Kerr said. ‘He’s so skilled, and he just looked like he’s in midseason form after not playing in a real game for a couple of months.’
Durant finished with 23 points, and LeBron James had 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
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Here are the keys to the U.S. victory:
US on fire with 3-pointers
The U.S. made 18-for-32 3-pointers, including 12-for-16 in the first half, and Serbia was 9-for-37 from that distance. The U.S. outscored Serbia 54-27 on 3s, and it’s hard to beat any team with that difference.
The 3-ball was an issue for the U.S. in some of its exhibition games, but it secured the victory against Serbia.
Steph Curry made the first 3 for the U.S., Devin Booker hit the next two and the 3-point party was on.
On his first possession of the game in the first quarter, Durant made a 3 and made another with 44 seconds left in the quarter.
Booker finished with four 3-pointers, Anthony Edwards made two and James added one.
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Handling Nikola Jokic
Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, had 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds, but it wasn’t the dominant performance to gave the U.S. major problems.
While Serbia is talented with other NBA players on the roster, the U.S. took advantage of Jokic’s first minutes on the bench. Serbia led 20-14 when Jokic checked out of the game with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter. When Jokic re-entered the game with 8:04 to go in the second quarter, the U.S. had a 27-20 lead.
Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo took turns defending Jokic. That’s why those three were named to the Olympic team. At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the U.S. finished fourth and didn’t have the size and physical play to match up with top international teams.
The U.S. wanted to take away Jokic’s passing, and even though he had assists, he also had four turnovers.
‘His passing is what really generates the offense,’ Adebayo said. ‘So it’s cutting off his passing lanes, forcing into difficult shots and just living with the make.’
Against a dominant big man and physical team that won silver at last year’s World Cup, the U.S. passed its first test.
FIBA LeBron comes up big for US
James was the best player for the U.S. during the exhibition schedule and ensured the U.S. didn’t lose to South Sudan and Germany in close games.
James, who hadn’t played in an Olympic game since 2012 in London, continued his stellar international play. He served as the primary playmaker with a game-high in assists, and he also connected on 9-for-13 shots from the field. James had six turnovers but those were mitigated by his aggressive play.
‘We missed him the last two Olympics,’ Durant said. ‘He puts fear in other team. I think that goes a long way. The psyche of the game. So he’s running downhill, making the right plays on the offense and defensive end. He’s just insane, and I’m glad he is on our team.’
James had dunks, threw alley-oop lobs, made a 3-pointer, converted three-point plays and was a defensive disruptor.
‘LeBron puts his imprint on the game in so many different ways,’ Kerr said. ‘It’s not just his skill and his strength and his size, but it’s his emotion, his confidence, just the way he infuses our team with energy and confidence at 39. It’s just amazing.’