Kevin Durant expected to play for U.S. in Olympics opener

Kevin Durant is expected to play for Team USA in its Olympics opener against Serbia on Sunday.

Coach Steve Kerr said after Durant practiced for a third straight day on Saturday it appeared the 35-year-old Durant was fully recovered from a left calf strain.

Kerr said he wasn't sure whether Durant would start against three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and the Serbs or come off the bench.

Joel Embiid did not practice Saturday because of illness but is expected to play in the opener, The Athletic reported.

Durant is on a quest to become the only man to win four basketball gold medals and cement his status as the greatest American male player in Olympics basketball history.

He leads the Americans all-time in points (435), points per game (19.8), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74) and free throws (69). He also ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).

In the past three Olympics, he has led the tournament in points averaged per game: 20.7 (2020, Tokyo), 19.5 (2012, London) and 19.4 (2016, Rio de Janeiro).

The Americans, going for a fifth consecutive gold medal, also will meet South Sudan (Wednesday) and Puerto Rico (Aug. 3) in pool play.

--Field Level Media