United States' Kevin Durant (7), right, tries to block Spain's Ricky Rubio (9), left, during men's basketball quarterfinal game at the Summer Olympics on Tuesday in Saitama, Japan. (AP photo)

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Back and forth they went, the three-time defending Olympic champions from the U.S. on one side, the reigning Basketball World Cup champions from Spain on the other.

The difference: The Americans had Kevin Durant.

He’s never gone to the Olympics and not won gold — and clearly, doesn’t plan on that changing. Durant scored 29 points to keep his quest for a third Olympic title alive, and the Americans are headed to the medal round after ousting Spain 95-81 on Tuesday in a quarterfinal matchup at the Tokyo Games.

“We’ve just got to finish it. Got to finish it,” Durant said. “We’re supposed to be here. For us, it’s about getting the gold.”

Jayson Tatum scored 13 and Jrue Holiday added 12 for the U.S., which will play Australia in the semifinals on Thursday.

Ricky Rubio was brilliant for Spain, scoring 38 points — a Spanish men’s Olympic record, and the most ever scored by a U.S. men’s Olympic opponent, topping the mark of 35 by Puerto Rico’s Butch Lee in 1976. Sergio Rodriguez added 16 for Spain.

Spain led by 10 in the second quarter, before the U.S. went on what became a 36-10 run over the next nine minutes to take control for good.