USA vs. Serbia results, highlights: Kevin Durant, LeBron James power United States to win in Olympic basketball opener

Kevin Durant is back and the United States looks more dangerous than ever.

USA Basketball’s all-time leading scorer missed all five exhibition games with a calf injury but made a loud return in a dominant 110-84 win over Serbia to open the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Durant made his first eight shot attempts, showing no signs of rust as he exploded for 21 points in the first half to get the United States out to a commanding lead. LeBron James took over from there, going for 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a well-rounded effort to pace Team USA.

Serbian star Nikola Jokic did all he could to keep his country in this game but the United States had too much firepower on offense. Jokic finished with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds, recording an impressive even +/- despite playing 31 minutes in a game his team lost by 26.

If you missed any of the action from the United States men’s basketball Olympic opener against Serbia, The Sporting News has you covered with updates, highlights and more below.

USA vs. Serbia basketball final score

Group C
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
F

Serbia
20
29
16
19
84

United States
25
33
26
26
110

USA vs. Serbia live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympics

(All times Eastern)

Final: USA 110, Serbia 84

1:08 p.m.: A Stephen Curry 3-pointer just before the final buzzer puts an exclamation point on the United States’ victory. Team USA runs away with a 110-84 win over Serbia behind 23 points from Kevin Durant and a near-triple-double of 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds from LeBron James.

Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds but Serbia didn’t have the toughness or physicality on defense to stop the United States. Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in 14 points.

1:04 p.m.: Devin Booker is putting Serbia away. He buries another 3-pointer — his fourth of the game — to extend Team USA’s lead to 22, 101-79, with a minute and a half to go.

1:01 p.m.: Bogdan Bogdanovic hits a 3-pointer, then LeBron James misses a 3-pointer, gets his own rebound and kicks out to Devin Booker for a 3-pointer. There is not enough time left for Serbia to keep trading baskets.

12:58 p.m.: Serbia cannot get the stops necessary to make a dent in Team USA’s lead. Nikola Jokic had two buckets and an assist for a Vasilije Micic 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter but the United States answered back each time.

Team USA leads Serbia 91-76 with 4:19 remaining in the game.

End of third quarter: USA 84, Serbia 65

12:49 p.m.: Anthony Edwards with a smooth up-and-under to beat the buzzer! Team USA built a 19-point lead going into the fourth quarter behind 23 points from Kevin Durant and 18 points from LeBron James.

Nikola Jokic is doing everything he can to keep Serbia in this game, tallying 16 points (6-8 FG), five assists and three rebounds.

12:45 p.m.: The United States is starting to pull away. The second unit of Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo really made life difficult for Serbia’s offense, holding it to just five points in the last four minutes of the frame.

12:35 p.m.: Now, it’s LeBron James’ turn to take over. James is doing a little bit of everything for the United States, scoring 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting with seven assists and four rebounds.

James just stripped Bogdan Bogdanovic and barreled his way down the court, finishing at the rim through contact.

Team USA leads Serbia 73-59 with four minutes remaining in the quarter.

12:29 p.m.: There was a stoppage in play early in the second half as the referees went to the monitor to review a physical play that resulted in a few bodies on the floor on both sides. Joel Embiid was assessed an “unsportsmanlike” foul for his hit on Aleksa Avramovic.

Halftime: USA 58, Serbia 49

12:17 p.m.: Enjoy all eight of Kevin Durant’s first-half makes without a single miss below.

12:00 p.m.: KEVIN DURANT. Serbia rattled off an 8-0 run to get right back into the game but Durant checked in and continued to set the court on fire. He buried a fadeaway midrange jumper, another 3-pointer and a fallaway shot at the buzzer to get USA’s lead back to nine, 58-49 at the half.

KD has 21 points while shooting 8-for-8 from the field and 5-for-5 from 3.

11:55 a.m.: Ognjen Dobric with a four-point play! The Serbian guard cuts Team USA’s lead to six, 46-40, with 2:46 remaining in the half.

11:48 a.m.: Kevin Durant simply cannot miss. He checks out after an impressive stint with 14 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers.

USA leads Serbia 38-25 midway through the second quarter.

11:42 a.m.: Kevin Durant is on fire. After missing all five exhibition games, Durant hit his first four shot attempts in his return. He’s already up to 11 points in under five minutes.

Team USA leads Serbia 32-25 with 7:24 to play in the half.

End of first quarter: USA 25, Serbia 20

11:38 a.m.: The United States overcame a slow start to end the first quarter on an 11-0 run. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have six points apiece to lead the team, while LeBron James has five points and two assists.

Nikola Jokic was held to just three points and had three turnovers in the first frame.

11:38 a.m.: Anthony Davis heads to the bench after picking up his second foul with under a minute remaining in the frame.

11:37 a.m.: Kevin Durant, again! He knocks down another triple on his second shot attempt to spark Team USA to another 9-0 run.

11:31 a.m.: Kevin Durant checked in with 2:33 remaining in the quarter and immediately knocked down a 3-pointer. Welcome back, KD.

11:29 a.m.: The United States has come charging right back. Devin Booker knocked down a pair of triples to spark a 9-0 Team USA run but Serbia has weathered the storm.

Serbia still leads 20-14 with three minutes to play in the first.

11:23 a.m.: Serbia is taking it to the United States early. Aleksa Avramovic has six quick points to give Serbia a 10-2 lead. USA head coach Steve Kerr took a timeout and subbed out a struggling Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis to try and change up the energy.

11:20 a.m.: Jrue Holiday’s defense forces a turnover and it turns into a LeBron James fastbreak dunk the other way.

11:16 a.m.: Aleksa Avramovic gets the first basket to go and we’re underway!

Serbia takes a 2-0 lead to start the game.

Pregame

11:15 a.m.: Serbia will start Bogdan Bogdanovic, Ognjen Dobric, Aleksa Avramovic, Filip Petrusev and Nikola Jokic.

11:08 a.m.: Kevin Durant will come off the bench in his first game back. Head coach Steve Kerr will start Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid — the starting group he used the most during the exhibition games.

10:15 a.m.: An hour out from tip-off, USA Basketball announced that Kevin Durant (calf) is set to make his 2024 Team USA debut against Serbia.

How to watch USA vs. Serbia at 2024 Paris Olympics

Date: Sunday, July 28
Time: 11:15 a.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Livestream: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo

Fans can watch Team USA take on Serbia on NBC on Sunday, July 28 at 11:15 a.m. ET. For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.