Kevin Durant inspires USA against Serbia to launch Olympic defence

Kevin Durant made a triumphant return from injury, showcasing his shooting prowess as the United States began their quest to defend their Olympic basketball title with a resounding 110-84 victory over Serbia on Sunday.

Durant, who had been sidelined during the USA's preparations due to a calf injury, displayed near-perfect shooting accuracy by making 8 out of 9 field goal attempts, tallying 23 points in a dominant performance for the reigning champions aiming for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold.

The Phoenix Suns star, holding the record for most points, points-per-game, and field goals for Team USA, entered the game in the first quarter when the star-studded American team was trailing 19-14.

A 14-time NBA All-Star and a key member of the gold medal-winning Olympic squads in 2012, 2016, and Tokyo 2020, Durant took charge by scoring a flurry of baskets to steer the Americans back on course.

LeBron James contributed 21 points, while Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets led Serbia's scoring with 20 points.

The United States are heavily favored to clinch the Olympic gold and have assembled a roster filled with NBA superstars such as James, Durant, and Stephen Curry.

Their next match is against South Sudan in the group stage on Wednesday, followed by a game against Puerto Rico in Lille next Saturday.

Based on their performance on Sunday, it appears that Steve Kerr's Golden State team will be a formidable force to contend with as the tournament progresses to the knockout stages in Paris on August 6.

Serbia, under the leadership of three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic, got off to a quick start in Sunday's match at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, taking an early 10-2 lead.

However, the entrance of Durant from the bench energized the US team, and once the Americans found their shooting rhythm, the outcome was never in question.

Durant was introduced into the game with a forceful body check from Vasilije Micic, causing the 6ft 11in (2.11m) 35-year-old to tumble to the floor.

Nevertheless, Durant handled the physicality of the Serbian team well and dazzled the Europeans with his impeccable shooting skills, helping the USA extend their lead to 25-20 by the end of the first quarter.

Durant capped off the second quarter with an impressive jump shot, putting the Americans ahead 58-49 at halftime, and the defending champions never appeared to be in danger of losing control of the game as they cruised to victory.