Kevin Durant’s Stellar Return Propels Team USA to Victory Over Serbia

Team USA bounced back from two lackluster performances earlier this month with a dominant 110-84 win over Serbia in their Olympic opener on Sunday. Kevin Durant, the most decorated player in national team history, was instrumental in the victory, marking his return from a calf injury with a spectacular performance.

Durant’s Dramatic Return

Durant was cleared to play less than an hour before tipoff after a month-long absence. Despite the short notice, he came off the bench and quickly became the game’s leading scorer, tallying 23 points in just 17 minutes. Durant’s return was marked by precision shooting, as he hit his first eight shots, including five three-pointers.

“I’ve been playing ball my whole life, so I simplified it,” said Durant. “And when the ball touched my hand, it was be aggressive.”

Coach Steve Kerr, mindful of Durant’s past injuries, initially brought him off the bench. This strategic decision paid off, as Durant’s scoring spree lifted Team USA from an early 19-14 deficit.

“When he comes back from a long absence, you don’t notice it,” Kerr said. “He is so skilled and looked like he was in midseason form after not playing in a real basketball game for a couple of months. Pretty incredible.”

Team USA Overcomes Early Nerves

Playing in front of over 27,000 fans at Stade Pierre Mauroy, the American team admitted to initial jitters. LeBron James, who also had a stellar game with 21 points, noted the unique atmosphere contributed to early nerves.

“I definitely got a little nervous. My stomach, the butterflies came out and it was something that was different even for me,” James said. “We were playing in front of a lot of people. It was just a different atmosphere.”

Despite the shaky start, Team USA found their rhythm. Stephen Curry echoed the sentiment, describing the environment as “a really cool” but nerve-wracking setting.

Key Performances and Tactical Moves

LeBron James was pivotal throughout the game, serving as the primary offensive initiator. His leadership and playmaking were crucial, as he finished with 21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. James and Durant combined to make their first 14 shots, including seven from beyond the arc, amassing 35 points between them.

Jrue Holiday contributed with strong perimeter defense and 15 points, while Devin Booker added 12 points, including four three-pointers. Despite the offensive fireworks, Joel Embiid struggled, scoring just four points with a minus-8 plus/minus rating. The U.S. defense rotated multiple players on Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, who managed 20 points but couldn’t dominate the game.

Tactical Decisions and Player Adjustments

Coach Kerr made notable strategic decisions, including benching Jayson Tatum for the game. Kerr explained that managing a 40-minute game with more than 10 players is challenging and opted for combinations he believed would work best with Durant’s return.

“It’s really hard in a 40-minute game to play more than 10 guys, and with Kevin coming back, I just went to the combinations that I felt would make the most sense,” Kerr said. “Jayson is first-team All-NBA three years in a row, he’s one of the best players in the world. So I went with the combinations that I felt like would make sense and talked to him, and he’s incredibly professional, and that’s tonight. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way the rest of the tournament, so he’ll make his mark.”

Looking Ahead

With this resounding win, Team USA displayed their depth, skill, and adaptability. Durant’s impressive return and James’ leadership set a positive tone for the remainder of the tournament. As Team USA continues to build chemistry and momentum, their quest for Olympic gold looks promising.

Stay tuned to Yardline Sports for more updates and in-depth analysis of Team USA’s Olympic journey.