There are other factors involved in why the Americans - whose summer got off to a seriously shaky start - have won three consecutive games to reach the medal round at the Tokyo Olympics where they'll face Australia's Boomers on Thursday.

The roster is full now. The NBA Finals trio of Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker and Khris Middleton got here and got settled. The team has been able to practice together. All of that has been crucial.

That all said, Durant is the key to everything.

He's rolling right now: 18 for 28 in his last two games, 8 for 14 from three-point range in those contests, 52 points in 59 minutes against first the Czech Republic and then Tuesday's win-or-go-home game against long-time US nemesis Spain.

And the two-time Olympic gold medallist - seeking to join Carmelo Anthony as the only American men with three titles - might have to stay in this groove if the US are going to beat Australia on Thursday, then either France or Slovenia on Saturday for a medal.

"In these games, every team has people like that that they depend on to come through," US coach Gregg Popovich said after the quarter-final victory over Spain. "And he certainly did."

The US-Spain game was tied at halftime, and then Durant decided it was over.

A three-pointer got the second half started. Another, not long afterward, gave the US some breathing room and had Durant vigorously clapping his hands as he headed back down the floor.

He had the assist that set up a 3-pointer from Jayson Tatum for a 15-point lead midway through the fourth, and then Durant closed out the win with a blocked shot and dunk in the final seconds.

To paraphrase his famous quote from 2019, he's Kevin Durant. You know who he is.

Australian Associated Press