Team USA won its third consecutive Olympic gold medal when it beat Serbia 96-66 in the men’s basketball tournament at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. He had already become the leading scorer earlier in the tournament, capping an Olympic career that began with disappointment as a member of the USA team that finished third in 2004. The win gave Team USA’s its 15th Gold in 19 outings.
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Durant was just getting going and the United States, inconsistent in these Olympics, were about to make their biggest statement. They join Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie, both of whom won four Olympic titles playing for Team USA.
It was a close contest to start, as the USA led 19-15 after one, before Kevin Durant came to life.
Kevin Durant scored 18 of his 30 points in the second quarter to trigger the rout, stretching the USA’s Olympic winning streak to 25 games and its decade-long unbeaten string to 76 in what was the final gold medal match of the Games. “The more interest in basketball on all levels, I’m for”.
Team USA’s demolition of Serbia was the largest margin in an Olympic men’s basketball game since the Dream Team clobbered Crotia in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with a 117-85 beating.
“It was a special moment for me”, said the 32-year-old.
United States scoring: Kevin Durant – 30 points, Demarcus Cousins – 13, Klay Thompson – 12, Paul George – 9, Carmelo Anthony – 7, DeMar Derozan – 6, Kyle Lowry – 5, DeAndre Jordan – 4, Kyrie Irving – 4, Harrison Barnes – 2, Jimmy Butler – 2, Draymond Green – 2.
A record 46 current NBA players featured on national team rosters in the men’s basketball tournament, and with the game growing globally there are signs that the gap is closing – even if it its just a little.
The US led 52-29 after two quarters, 79-43 after three before they won another one-sided game.
Australia could not get up a shot on their last possession, sending Spain into raptures and giving them bronze to add to their Olympic silvers from Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
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Krzyzewski, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, will be replaced for the 2017-2020 Tokyo Olympics cycle by Gregg Popovich of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
