Longhorns Kevin Durant, Royal Ivey make early mark on Paris Olympics

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kevin Durant came off the bench for the United States in their first group game against Serbia at the Paris Olympics, but he was the best player on the floor.

Durant connected on his first eight shots, five coming from 3-point range, to lead the Americans with 23 points in a 110-84 victory Sunday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Durant didn't play in any exhibition warm-up games for the U.S. due to a calf injury, so the coaching staff is trying to "ease" him back into competition. He said his leg felt "great" and he was "itching to get back on the floor," in the postgame interview with NBC.

"The training staff has been doing a great job with me, so I'm happy I'm out there with the guys and being part of the team," he said. "It's a great start for us."

Team USA's Kevin Durant was on fire in 110-84 win over Serbia

Durant rescued the U.S. from a dreadful start in which Serbia jumped out to a 20-14 lead with a pair of 3-pointers to key a 9-0 run to end the first quarter. Durant played 17 minutes but was extremely impactful, scoring 15 points in the second quarter including a tough turnaround jumper falling away from the bucket with about a second left in the half.

He finished the game 8 for 9 from the field with two rebounds. LeBron James scored a game-high 28 points on 9 of 13 shooting with nine assists and seven rebounds. Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker each had 19 points.

Nikola Jokic, the 3-time NBA MVP for the Denver Nuggets, led Serbia with 20 points on 8 of 15 shooting.

The Americans take on South Sudan, coached by former Texas Longhorn guard Royal Ivey, in group play at 1:45 p.m. CDT Wednesday. Serbia plays Puerto Rico.

Ivey's South Sudan team picks up historic win

In its first ever appearance in the Olympics, the South Sudan men's basketball team picked up a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Wednesday. It was just the second win for an African nation in the Olympics since 1996

South Sudan ruled the boards with 55 rebounds to Puerto Rico's 37. Carlik Jones led the team with 19 points.

South Sudan 90, Puerto Rico 79: South Sudan gets first-ever Olympics victory

South Sudan trailed by six at halftime 54-48 but held Puerto Rico to 25 second-half points, South Sudan went on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away after Puerto Rico worked the deficit back to 75-73 with 7:19 remaining.

"Being at the Olympics and getting our first win, this is so surreal," Ivey said after the game. "I couldn't experience anything better than this. This is a movie. My life is like a movie right now, and I'm in the 42nd chapter."

Ivey led the Longhorns to three consecutive Sweet 16 apperances and the 2003 Final Four from 2000-2004. He's an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets in the NBA.

Durant played one season for the Longhorns in 2007 and said Ivey has "impacted my life in many ways, even outside of basketball."

"Seeing his leadership and how far he can take this South Sudan team, it's beautiful," Durant said. "It's big for their country and it's big for him as a young coach. I'm secretly behind them (South Sudan), except when they play against us (Team USA). But he's really doing a great job."