The U.S. men’s b-ball group started their gold decoration safeguard at the Paris Olympics on Sunday with a definitive 110-84 triumph over Serbia in their most memorable gathering play match.

Kevin Durant was the standout player for Team USA, scoring an impressive 23 points with an 8-of-9 shooting performance. Despite missing all exhibition games leading up to the Paris Olympics, Durant came off the bench looking unstoppable. LeBron James, returning to Olympic play for the first time since 2012, contributed significantly with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, showing he’s still in top form 12 years after his last Olympic appearance in London.

Nikola Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, led Serbia’s endeavors with 20 places, 8 helps, and 5 bounce back. In any case, Serbia couldn’t match the profundity and expertise of Group USA. After a serious first quarter, the US acquired the lead in the last minutes and kept up with their benefit until the end of the game.

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Team USA showcased phenomenal shooting in their opening game, hitting 62.3% from the field and an impressive 56.3% from beyond the arc. The movement of players like Devin Booker and Stephen Curry created significant challenges for the Serbian defense, allowing the U.S. perimeter stars to capitalize on their screens and fluidity. Additionally, the front-court trio of Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis delivered a strong defensive performance, effectively shutting down the paint for all Serbian players except Jokic.

Contributions poured in from across the U.S. roster. Jrue Holiday added 15 points alongside his stellar on-ball defense. Devin Booker scored 12 points, while Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards each chipped in 11. Edwards also showcased his signature flair, playfully challenging Serbian defenders on a few of his scoring plays.

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Durant’s return bolstered Team USA’s offense but also led to a tighter rotation. Coming off the bench, Durant’s presence seemingly sidelined Jayson Tatum for now, as the reigning NBA champion didn’t play in the opening game. With an abundance of talent on the wings, including LeBron James, Durant, Devin Booker, and Anthony Davis, coach Steve Kerr chose to complement them with more defensive-minded players like Tatum’s Celtics teammates, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

Despite the fact that Group USA is areas of strength for the to win its fourth successive gold decoration, Sunday’s triumph was especially noteworthy. Regardless of lacking NBA profundity, Serbia remunerates major areas of strength for with union. They won silver finally year’s FIBA World Cup and component current NBA stars Nikola Jovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

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Team USA’s next group game is on Wednesday against South Sudan. The two teams faced off recently, with the U.S. narrowly securing a 101-100 victory on July 20.

This article was initially distributed on NBCNews.com