Kevin Durant becomes all-time USA men's points leader in win to seal quarter-final spot
Two-time Olympic champ KD pours in 23 points as Team USA defeats Czech Republic 119-84. Durant has now scored 354 points as a part of the U.S. squad, and will go for more in last four.
Basketball
Almost nine years to the day since Kevin Durant made his debut for Team USA's men's basketball squad at London 2012, the American has become its all-time leading scorer in Olympic play.
Durant, already a two-time gold medallist, notched 23 points as the U.S. swept past the Czech Republic in their final group game at Tokyo 2020, winning 119-84.
The Americans rallied from a first-quarter deficit to lead at halftime by four, then ran up the score in the third quarter, giving them a 2-1 record in group play after an opening-game defeat to France.
Durant's effort on Saturday (31 July) gives him 354 total points scored, surpassing Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James, David Robinson, and Michael Jordan complete the top five on the all-time U.S. list.
The U.S. finished second in the group, behind undefeated France. The Americans will find out their quarter-final opponents after the completion of group play on Sunday (1 August) with the knockout phase beginning on Tuesday (3 August).
Kevin Durant's record: 'It's amazing to see'
The accolades were pouring in for Durant, one of just two Olympic gold medallists on the team (along with Draymond Green), following his Saturday output to climb to the scoring record.
"It's amazing to see, amazing to watch," said Jayson Tatum, who actually had a team-leading 27 points vs. the Czechs. "It's a huge accomplishment when you think about all the great players, the Hall of Fame players that have put this uniform on."
Tatum continued: "To be on the top, to have that scoring title... I'm young enough to remember those 2012 and 2016 teams that he was on and now to be able to play in the Olympics on the same team with him and other guys, like Draymond - they've been through this before - it's really cool, honestly. I can remember being in middle and high school watching those guys (at the Olympics). I was saying, 'One day I want to be on the Olympic team.' To share the court with these guys makes it all that much better."
Devin Booker, another Team USA Olympic rookie, said: "It's greatness; that's legendary... I have the highest level of respect for Kev and what he's done for basketball."