Two games, two 100-point performances, two comfortable wins for Team USA in the Olympic men’s basketball tournament. Will they make it three for three in today’s Group C finale against Puerto Rico (11:15 am ET, NBC)?
After opening with a 26-point win over fellow gold medal hopeful Serbia, Team USA breezed past South Sudan 103-86 on Wednesday.
When the two teams met in an Olympic warm-up game, South Sudan nearly pulled off a massive upset, as the Americans escaped with a one-point win.
There was no such stress for Team USA this time around, as they led by double digits for the final 30 minutes and 31 seconds.
While the USA is on the way to the quarters, Puerto Rico’s tournament will end today.
In their opener, they weren’t able to convert their best opportunity for a win, falling away in the second half against South Sudan in an 11-point loss. That was followed by an altogether forgettable performance against Serbia on Wednesday, as they fell 107-66.
Through the first 16 games of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament, that is the biggest blowout thus far. Will Team USA eclipse that today?
Puerto Rico vs USA Odds
Spread
- Puerto Rico +35.5 (-110)
- USA -35.5 (-110)
Over/Under
- Over 189 (-110)
- Under 189 (-110)
See more Puerto Rico vs USA odds at BetOnline. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a bonus to bet on this blockbuster Olympic women’s basketball tournament matchup.
Puerto Rico vs USA Betting Analysis
Barring the most lethargic of performances, Team USA should have no issues dispatching Puerto Rico.
Victory will set up a quarterfinal matchup with Brazil, who is already locked in to a spot as one of the two best third-place teams, thanks to their 102-84 win over Japan yesterday. That matchup will be certain regardless of the result of the Serbia-South Sudan matchup (3:00 pm ET, CNBC).
This game will be a good opportunity for players who haven’t played a lot of minutes to get some decent time on the floor, so there’s a chance we’ll see more of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton than in the first two games.
Embiid started but only played 11 minutes and 21 seconds against Serbia, then didn’t play at all against South Sudan. Haliburton, meanwhile, didn’t log any minutes against Serbia and played only seven minutes and 37 seconds against South Sudan.
That may be the most interesting thing to watch in this one, as it is highly unlikely to be a competitive contest for long, if at all.
Since outscoring South Sudan by eight in the first quarter last Sunday, Puerto Rico has been outscored 177-117 in seven quarters. They have been especially dreadful in the second half, in which they have been outscored 97-56.
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Puerto Rico vs USA Prediction & Picks
With point differential irrelevant to how the quarterfinal draw shakes out, Team USA may show a small amount of mercy against Puerto Rico.
That said, even if they don’t give the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant a ton of minutes, this one should still be a rather sound thumping.
Both the first half spread and the spread for the full game are at numbers that are usually a no-go, but I like the former as the USA should be well out of sight by the break.
While I would suggest not looking too hard at props for LeBron and KD, I am eyeing up props for Embiid and Stephen Curry. Embiid should get his most substantial playing time today, while I expect Steph to light it up from outside after missing all six of his three-point attempts against South Sudan.
Puerto Rico vs USA Prediction: USA to win
Puerto Rico vs USA Picks: 1) USA first half -19.5, 2) Joel Embiid over 10.5 points (-125 at Bovada), 3 & 4) Stephen Curry over 11.5 points (-135 at Bovada) and 4+ three-pointers (+190 at Bovada)
Other Olympic Men’s Basketball Betting Information
Where to Bet on Puerto Rico vs USA & the Olympic Men’s Basketball Tournament
With NBA stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama taking part, the Olympic men’s basketball tournament is garnering a lot of betting interest from far and wide. Therefore, bettors have no shortage of options for where to bet on Olympic men’s basketball tournament odds.
The odds in this piece come from BetOnline, which has a wealth of betting markets for this event and other Paris 2024 events.
Including BetOnline, below are some of the sites that we recommend for betting on the Olympics.
Best Betting Sites for the Olympics
- BetOnline (review)
- BetUS (review)
- Betwhale (review)
- Bovada (review)
- MyBookie (review)
Are you unfamiliar with any of the sites listed? Check out our reviews for each site to learn more about them. Our sportsbook reviews cover available betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile betting, and bonuses and loyalty/VIP programs.
Other Olympics Content by Betting News
The 2024 Summer Olympics are ongoing in Paris, and we are covering a number of key events, like the Olympic men’s basketball tournament. Did you enjoy this Puerto Rico vs USA basketball betting breakdown? Here’s some of our other Olympic content to check out:
- Olympic Men’s Basketball Tournament Odds & Favorites
- Betting Guide for the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Three Best Gold Medal Bets for Paris 2024
- Five Storylines & Facts for Paris 2024
Betting News will have a lot of content devoted to Paris 2024, so bookmark the site so you don’t miss any of it. Also, follow our social media channels for more insight for the Olympic men’s basketball tournament and other notable events.
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