When Team USA began to feel that historic heat, the creeping grip of an unbreakable loss, it went to the guys with the rings. This game meant everything to the Boomers, who were in their sixth Olympic semifinal and looking for their first win. They have seven NBA players participating in a game that would have earned them respect among their peers and countrymen for the rest of their careers, led by Patty Mills, one of the all-time great scorers in Olympic history. This was a watershed moment for Team USA, which is prone to sloppy play and poor shooting early in games. Digging a hole in these conditions was perilous, but the Americans had Durant, who scored 23 points and didn't need to play in the fourth quarter, while the Australians didn't. With the offense sputtering and the 3-point shooting — the heart of Team USA's offensive that had been absent after they missed their first 10 3-point attempts — absolutely failing, Durant put his head down and began to work. Holiday was his partner in crime, combining for six first-half assists while defending Mills. This was a critical moment, especially since the Americans have shown they can play well in the third quarter. "When you're a talented team and you're up against a team that believes beating us will be difficult, they'll come out and play their best brand of basketball,", Durant said. Durant and Holiday grabbed command of the game in the second half. Durant made three straight baskets, two of which were 3-pointers, while Holiday, who finished with 11 points, had two straight baskets. Holiday and Durant, who challenged shots, assisted the squad, as did big guys Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green, whose versatility shone through. Following a 13-for-26 start, the Australians were spooked by the Americans' strong start and began missing shots, going 3-for-16. When the Aussies got desperate to stop Durant, Holiday began seeking for him. Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday lead Team USA to Olympic gold in men's basketball, defeating Australia. #Kevin Durant #Jrue Holiday #Durant #Holiday #nba #basketball #Durant basketball player #Olympic basketball #USA #USA basketball #australia #australian basketball # USA defeating Australia