“Três pontos, Kevin Durant!”

That’s what the public address announcer at Carioca Arena 1 shouted after Durant scored each of his five three-pointers in the USA’s 119-62 win over China in their opening game at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

It’s a phrase that may be repeated often during the men’s basketball tournament in Rio.

Durant finished the game with 25 points, including five threes, while DeMarcus Cousins ended with 17 and five rebounds as the USA easily beat China, just as they had during two recent warm-up games prior to the start of the Games.

"KD... KD is KD, man," USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the game. "He's one of the best players in the world. He's playing defence, and when he gets rolling like that, it's a pretty neat thing to have."

Yi Jianlian, who was selected four spots behind Durant in the 2007 NBA entry draft, led China with 25 points. 

Chinese fans were in good spirits even if they didn't have much to cheer (Photo: Rio 2016/Jon Azpiri)

Party atmosphere

It was a festive atmosphere at Carioca 1 Arena on Saturday night that at times felt more like a football match than a basketball game.

At first, the crowd appeared to be behind the star-studded USA team, cheering loudly as Durant hit three consecutive three-pointers in the first half.

By the second half, many in the crowd had switched sides to support a struggling Chinese squad by chanting “Olê Olê Olê Olê, China, China!" and even "Vamos virar China!" (Let's fight back China!). 

By the game’s end, with the result no longer in doubt, the crowd did the Mexican wave.

"It's fun when fans go out and have fun with it," USA swingman Jimmy Butler said. "There was a lot of chanting, some for us too. It's fun to hear different fans and different chants."

The USA will face Venezeula on August 8 in Group A action while China takes on France.