Kevin Durant, LeBron James fuel U.S. past Serbia

Kevin Durant scored 23 points off the bench and LeBron James added 21 to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds, lifting Team USA to a 110-84 victory over Serbia in its Summer Olympics opener on Sunday in Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.

Durant made 8 of 9 shots from the floor -- including all five attempts from 3-point range. He was cleared to compete shortly before the game after missing nearly one month with a calf injury.

Durant and James didn't miss a beat, combining to make their first 14 shots. The Americans benefited from a sizzling shooting display, making 62.3 percent of their shots from the floor and 56.3 percent from 3-point range.

"It's all we talked about since Day 1 of training camp is being connected, while some of these other teams have been playing since they were kids. We get together for a couple of weeks," Durant told NBC immediately after the game. "We have to build that camaraderie and that trust pretty quickly. You see it out there. Everyone is just playing for one another moving the ball, moving defensively, talking to each other. It's the pinnacle of basketball when you do that."

Serbia was led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who collected 20 points, eight assists and four steals. He made 8 of 15 shots from the floor, albeit just 1 of 6 from 3-point range.

Jrue Holiday scored 15 points, Devin Booker had 12 after sinking four 3-pointers and Stephen Curry added 11 points to fuel the Americans, who will face South Sudan on Tuesday in continuation of Group C play.

South Sudan rode a 19-point performance from Carlik Jones to a 90-79 victory over Puerto Rico in another Group C game earlier on Sunday. It was the first-ever win for South Sudan in Olympic play.

South Sudan nearly pulled off an upset of the U.S. in an exhibition game on July 20 before James made a layup with eight seconds left in a 101-100 victory in London.

--Field Level Media