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SAITAMA, Japan — There have been 13 seconds left on the clock when Kevin Durant discovered himself gliding to the basket with nobody round him.
He ascended easily to the rim and dunked the ball with two fingers. When the buzzer sounded moments later, Draymond Inexperienced jogged over to Durant, grabbed his hand and thumped his chest. It appeared like a gesture of each celebration and appreciation.
Having one of the crucial full scorers within the universe in your basketball staff has its benefits.
That may be a lesson Inexperienced and his United States teammates have been comfortable to be taught on Tuesday afternoon — a luxurious they’ve wanted to take advantage of over these previous couple weeks — as Durant took management of their do-or-die Olympic quarterfinal matchup in opposition to Spain, scoring 29 factors to guide the Individuals to an initially nervy, however in the end snug, 95-81 win.
“Kevin Durant was nice,” Inexperienced mentioned. “He was who we’d like him to be. He confirmed why he’s arguably the best participant on the earth.”
The win despatched the USA to the semifinals of the lads’s event, the place they are going to meet the winner of a contest between Argentina and Australia.
Because the begin of their preparations for the Video games, the American gamers have spoken overtly about the truth that they’re nonetheless studying to play collectively as a gaggle, quite than merely an assemblage of particular person stars. They lost two exhibition games earlier than leaving residence after which began their Olympic marketing campaign with a defeat against France.
The nice factor, Inexperienced mentioned, is that they proceed to enhance. The one unhealthy factor, he mentioned, is that there’s not a lot time remaining for them to determine it out.
“I feel the potential of this staff is infinite,” Inexperienced mentioned. “Sadly we’ve acquired two video games left, so we’d like to verify we’re persevering with to get higher each time we step on the ground. I feel that’s what we’ve executed.”
Nonetheless a lot they enhance, nonetheless many query marks stay, they’ve the final word insurance coverage plan in Durant, who proved once more on Tuesday that he can undo the shackles of even probably the most rigorously drilled defenses on the earth.
The USA acquired off to a gradual begin, settling for outdoor photographs, and failing to make them, as Spain constructed a 10-point lead late within the second quarter. The Individuals shot solely 38 p.c from the sphere within the first half, making solely 4 of 17 makes an attempt from 3-point vary.
However Durant and his teammates acquired extra aggressive earlier than the halftime break. They labored the ball inside, unsettling the Spanish protection, and completed the quarter on a 14-4 run. That despatched the groups to the locker rooms tied at 43-43.
“If we drive it to the paint, there’s going to be two or three guys converging, then we will get the three,” Durant mentioned. “If we come out simply chucking 3s up early, if we’re not hitting them, it’s going to look unhealthy.”
As Durant acquired sizzling from 3-point vary within the third, the Individuals took management of the sport and by no means let go. Durant completed the sport 10 for 17 from the sphere, together with 4 for 7 from 3-point vary.
Afterward, Durant mentioned he was nonetheless simply getting snug together with his position. His remaining opponents could also be watching warily to see how snug he will get.
“On this setting, it’s at all times onerous to get your footing as a person participant since you don’t need to step on toes, you’re coming out and in of the sport, you’re not taking part in as many minutes, getting as many photographs,” Durant mentioned. “However I really like how we’ve caught with it by means of this complete time frame, and guys are beginning to determine what to do.”
The Spanish, larger and higher drilled, used their measurement as a bonus at any time when they may. They received the rebounding battle, 42-32, and cashed in on a number of second-chance alternatives across the basket.
Ricky Rubio was their foremost instigator on offense, main all scorers with 38 factors.
Requested concerning the significance of Durant, U.S. Coach Gregg Popovich drew a comparability to Rubio’s position within the Spanish staff.
“They’re each nice gamers, and so they’re each onerous to cease,” Popovich mentioned, earlier than including about Durant: “In these video games, each staff has folks like that, that they depend upon to come back by means of, and he definitely did.”
A gold medal run would put an exclamation mark on an extended season for Durant, who missed your entire 2019-2020 N.B.A. season after tearing his proper Achilles’ tendon. He returned to the Nets this season and averaged 34.2 factors throughout their 12-game postseason run.
“Kevin is a rhythm participant, and determining the rhythm and stream is essential,” Inexperienced mentioned. “We’ve acquired that found out now, and we allowed him to do what he’s nice at, and he was nice.”
The absence from the USA staff (and the Olympic event) of a number of the recreation’s largest stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden — has sharpened the highlight on Durant. However he appears to be taking it in stride, asserting his id in more and more vital methods, whilst he appeared to take little pleasure on Tuesday in advancing to the semifinals.
“We’re speculated to be right here,” Durant mentioned. “For us it’s about getting a gold.”
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