United States, Kevin Durant | featured news

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, LeBron James added 19 and the U.S. men's basketball team defended its Olympic title, holding off stubborn Spain 107-100 on Sunday for the gold medal -- just as the Americans did in 2008.

Kevin Durant scored 28 points - 17 during a stunning, long-range shooting display in the third quarter - and the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team blasted into the medal round with a 126-97 win over Argentina on Monday night.

The hiccups outnumbered the highlights, and for a while the U.S. racked up fouls faster than points. The opener wasn't artistic. However, it was enough - easily enough. Kevin Durant scored 22 points in his Olympic debut, Kevin Love added 14 and LeBron James had eight assists as the American men's basketball team overcame some sloppy moments with a 98-71 win Sunday over France.

The United States won their first world championship title in 16 years after beating hosts Turkey 81-64 in the final thanks to a majestic performance by 21-year-old forward Kevin Durant.

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Chauncey Billups made the promise. Kevin Durant made sure it was kept. And by beating Russia on Thursday, the Americans brought a little joy to one of the players who will never forget what happened against the Soviets exactly 38 years earlier.

Before it can win a world championship, the United States needed to start looking like a world champion. Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups and the rest of the Americans finally had that appearance Monday, powering into the quarterfinals with a 121-66 victory over Angola.

Kevin Durant scored 14 points and got the United States started on a dominant second-quarter stretch in a 106-78 victory over Croatia on Saturday in its opening game at the world championship.

For young, established N.B.A. players, the possibility of not being needed on the national team can be an eye-opening experience.