Former Texas basketball star Kevin Durant stupendous in win over Czech

In a win that was expected for former Texas basketball star freshman forward Kevin Durant and the United States on the morning of July 31, something sparked that wasn’t there with this team before. Following a disappointing start to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, this month with a loss to France to start off pool play, the United States looks much better in the past two games.

The loss to France was a learning opportunity it looks like for Team USA and has sparked a pretty big turnaround of late. Team USA took down Iran and the Czech Republic to round out pool play this week in dominant fashion. The United States beat Iran by the final score of 120-66, and then dismantled the Czech Republic by a score of 119-84.

Considering the Czech Republic upset Team Canada to make it to the Summer Olympic Games in the first place, it is clear that this team could be a threat if the United States was off its game again. The lone NBA player that the Czech side boasts is the Chicago Bulls combo guard Tomas Satoransky, but Team USA did a nice job limiting him on this day.

Sato was held to just 12 points in this game, which is largely why the United States outscored the Czech Republic by a margin of 35 points.

Former Texas basketball superstar Kevin Durant big for Team USA in win over the Czech Republic

Meanwhile, the likes of KD and Boston Celtics star forward/wing Jayson Tatum were the driving forces to the United States getting the win on July 31. KD registered 23 points, a team-high eight rebounds, six assists, no steals, one block, and two turnovers. And he shot a solid 8-of-11 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.

This was definitely the best game we’ve seen out of KD with Team USA in this trio of games throughout pool play in the Olympics. You could argue it is easily one of his best since the start of the pre-Olympic exhibition circuit too.

Moreover, Tatum was really good for the United States in this game too. He registered a game-high 27 points, two rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. Tatum shot 10-of-16 from the field, 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line.

From Group A, the United States and France will now move on to the knockout stage. The knockout stage games are set to begin on Aug. 3, so Team USA and KD won’t have to wait that much longer to know their next opponent.