Texas basketball-ex Kevin Durant very clutch for USA in win over Spain

In the most dangerous game that the United States have played in thus far in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in the past month, former Texas basketball star forward Kevin Durant had his best outing yet. And KD definitely saved his best for a good moment thus far, as Team USA was met with a big challenge against a talented Spanish side.

Spain already beat the United States in convincing fashion on the hardwood in the team’s pre-Olympic exhibition circuit last month. That led to some concerns about whether the United States would actually be able to move on to the next round in the knockout stages in Tokyo for men’s basketball.

Thankfully for Team USA, the best player on this roster came through when it mattered. KD was solid for the United States in the final game of pool play, in a dominant win over the Czech Republic back on July 31.

And he continued that momentum in this win over Spain, which came by the final score of 95-81 early in the morning of Aug. 3. This game really turned into a battle between veteran point guard Ricky Rubio for Spain, and KD for the United States.

Former Texas basketball star Kevin Durant shines when it matters in win over Spain

Rubio wound up nearly scoring half of the points for the Spain. He registered a game-high 38 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while shooting an efficient 13-of-20 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. The fact that Rubio put up 38 points in a knockout stage game in the Olympics on just 20 field goal attempts shows just how big this win was for the United States.

But KD came through for Team USA with a team-high 29 points, two rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. And he shot 10-of-17 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Once again, it wasn’t just the scoring boost that KD provided for the United States. He provided this team with maybe the most well-rounded performance of any player in this game. KD is making a habit now, with more than half of his games in these Olympics showing out with at least three steals and blocks combined.

KD and the United States did just beat one of the best teams in the world to move on to the semifinals of the knockout stages in men’s basketball. Up next is a meeting with Australia, who the United States is now very familiar with thanks to the pre-Olympic exhibition circuit. With the way that KD and Team USA are playing right now, Australia shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Tip-off time between Australia and the United States in the semifinals of the knockout stage is set to come on 11:15 p.m. CT late in the night of Aug. 4. The other semifinal will pit Luka Doncic and Slovenia against France.