Kevin Durant, LeBron James key U.S. rout in Olympics opener - ESPN

LILLE, France — Kevin Durant is happiest when he's playing basketball. And when he's playing basketball, Durant is happiest when he's thriving for Team USA.

Already the most decorated and accomplished player in national team history, Durant added another volume to his tremendous Olympic record with a brilliant performance in Team USA's 110-84 victory over Serbia in a pivotal pool play game Sunday.

Cleared to play less than an hour before the game after missing a month with a calf injury, Durant made an instant and dramatic impact as he nailed his first eight shots, five of them 3-pointers, in a 23-point masterpiece in just 17 dazzling minutes.

«I've been playing ball my whole life, so I simplified it,» said Durant, who played his first 5-on-5 since April. «And when the ball touched my hand, it was be aggressive.»

Team USA coach Steve Kerr was extremely cautious in bringing Durant back after a calf injury had been a precursor to his Achilles tear in 2019.

Durant was the fifth player Kerr brought off the bench in the first quarter, and it happened with Serbia playing well and ahead 19-14. It was just the fourth time in Durant's pro career and the first time in his Team USA career that he has come off the bench.

But then that trademark sweet jumper was again on display on an Olympic floor, time after time ripping through the net. Durant, who had been frustrated going through his slow recovery watching his star-studded teammates try to gain some chemistry, shed all his worries and couldn't contain his smiles.

«When he comes back from a long absence, you don't notice it,» Kerr said. «I mean, he is so skilled and he just looked like he was in midseason form after not playing in a real basketball game for a couple of months.