Kevin Durant Shines in Olympic Comeback, Leads U.S. to Victory

Kevin Durant made a remarkable return to the U.S. Olympic basketball team, scoring 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting in 17 minutes against Serbia. Overcoming a calf strain, Durant demonstrated his prowess as the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men's Olympic history, paving the way for a dominant 110-84 win.

Kevin Durant is back. Making his debut this summer for the U.S. Olympic team, Durant showcased his scoring prowess at the Paris Games.

In what could hardly be called a warm-up, Durant, the top scorer in U.S. men's Olympic history, scored 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting in just 17 minutes. He played a key role in the United States' 110-84 rout over Serbia in the Olympic opener, despite dealing with a troubling calf strain that had him worried about missing the Games.

'I eased him in,' said U.S. coach Steve Kerr. 'He didn't ease himself in.' Durant was quick to establish his dominance, sinking five 3-pointers and a buzzer-beater fadeaway in the first half for a 58-49 lead. Even social media buzzed with praise, and by halftime, fans and analysts alike were in awe of his performance.

Durant was subbed in as the fifth man off the bench, an unusual role for the NBA star. 'We're talking about Kevin Durant as a sixth man,' said U.S. guard Stephen Curry. 'That tells you how good this team can be.' Despite being a reserve, Durant made it look easy and received glowing reactions from teammates and social media. He recovered from his injury just in time, practicing rigorously and returning to form precisely when his team needed him the most.

(With inputs from agencies.)