TOKYO, (Reuters) - The United States clinched a quarter-final berth in Olympic men’s basketball yesterday as seedings for next week’s last- eight showdowns took shape. Kevin Durant led Team USA to a commanding 119-84 victory against the Czech Republic in the final group game at the Saitama Super Arena, north of Tokyo.

The U.S. ended the preliminaries 2-1 after dropping their first match to France, the first Olympic loss for the Americans since 2004.

“We’re all just trying to figure each other out. This is literally our third game with all of us together,” said Jrue Holiday, who plays for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. “But we knew KD would come in and do what he always does.”

Team USA started slowly against the Czech team and were trailing at the end of the first quarter. But the Americans pulled away in the second half on a barrage of three-pointers from Durant and Jayson Tatum.

In earlier matches, France and Australia completed sweeps of their preliminary groups.

Real Madrid’s Thomas Heurtel led with 16 points in France’s 79-62 victory over Iran. They went 3-0 in Group A, including their shock defeat of Team USA on Sunday.

Despite his team’s dominant showing so far, Evan Fournier would not speculate on France’s chances of a medal.

“Quarter-final first. Focus on that,” said Fournier, who plays for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. “Too many times we’ve beaten very, very good teams and we lost in the semi-final, so no more of that.”

SCINTILLATING MILLS

Australia’s Patty Mills was scintillating behind the 3point line, powering his team to an 89-76 victory over Germany in Group B.

Australia will go into the quarter-finals without forward Aron Baynes https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/bkb-bathroomslip-rules-australias-baynes-out-tokyo-games-2021-0730 who aggravated a neck injury after a bathroom slip and is out of the Games. Germany and the Czech Republic finished 1-2, but the Germans advance to the quarter-finals on Tuesday based on the relative scoring records. One final last-eight slot remains and will go to winner of Argentina against Japan in Group C on Sunday.