Kevin Durant and Team USA flipped the switch against Australia and cruised to 97-78 comeback win on Thursday, August 5, to reach the finals of the Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball tournament.

Durant delivered team-highs of 23 points and 9 rebounds on top of 2 steals as the Americans fought back from a 15-point deficit to move one win away from bagging a fourth straight Olympic gold.

The Aussies were on their way to replicating their stunning win over Team USA in an exhibition game prior to the Olympics after seizing a 41-26 lead midway through the second quarter.

But the United States eventually found its groove, narrowing the gap to 42-45 at halftime and enjoying a 74-55 advantage going into the final period thanks to a 48-14 run bridging the middle quarters.

Devin Booker backstopped Durant with 20 points, while Jrue Holiday filled up the stats sheet with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

“I think [teams] want to get us down early in hopes that we panic,” Durant said on NBC after the victory. “We didn’t.”

“We came out in the third quarter with amazing energy and fought.”

Khris Middleton added 11 points in the win, while Zach LaVine and Jayson Tatum added 9 points apiece.

Team USA will face the winner of the other semifinals pairing between Slovenia and France in the championship match.

Patty Mills led Australia in the loss with 15 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Dante Exum put up 14 points and 4 rebounds.

The Aussies, whose best Olympic finish in men’s basketball stands at fourth place, can still salvage a bronze.

The Scores

USA 97 – Durant 23, Booker 20, Middleton 11, Holiday 11, LaVine 9, Tatum 9, Lillard 5, McGee 4, Adebayo 3, Green 2, Johnson 0, Grant 0.

Australia 78 – Mills 15, Exum 14, Landale 11, Ingles 9, Goulding 8, Kay 7, Thybulle 6, Sobey 5, Reath 3, Green 0, Dellavedova 0.

Quarters: 18-24, 42-45 74-55, 97-78.

– Rappler.com