Workforce USA is one sport away from the Paris 2024 Males’s Basketball Gold Medal Sport, nevertheless it has to get by means of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia to achieve the ultimate.
Oddsmakers see the U.S. as the large favourite, which is sensible given how one-sided the People’ video games have been to date on this competitors.
The USA (which is -700 to win Gold at DK, in comparison with Serbia at +2000) received every of its first 4 Olympic contests by at the very least 17 factors.
The People’ one-sided victories included a 110-84 romp over Serbia on July 28 in its first sport of group play. It is price stating, although, that for as dominant because the U.S. appeared within the second half of that sport, it was solely up 50-47 with 1:14 to play within the second quarter.
Serbia has received three in a row since opening group play with a blowout loss to the U.S., nevertheless it hasn’t been straightforward for Jokic and Co. On Tuesday, they wanted additional time to beat Australia within the quarterfinals in a sport through which they trailed by as many as 24 factors at one level within the first half.
And after a blowout win over Group C foe Puerto Rico on July 31, they entered the fourth quarter towards South Sudan with only a five-point lead on August 3.
Serbia vs. USA will tip off at Bercy Area in Paris at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday on USA Community.
Under are the unfold, moneyline and whole odds for the lads’s basketball semifinal between Serbia and the USA.
Serbia vs. USA unfold odds
| FanDuel | DraftKings | bet365 | |
| Serbia | +16.5 (-108) | +17 (-112) | +17 (-110) |
| USA | -16.5 (-112) | -17 (-108) | -17 (-110) |
Serbia vs. USA moneyline odds
| FanDuel | DraftKings | bet365 | |
| Serbia | +920 | +950 | +1300 |
| USA | -2000 | -1650 | -2800 |
Serbia vs. USA whole odds
| FanDuel | DraftKings | bet365 | |
| Over/Below | 188 (o -110; u -110) | 188 (o -110; u -110) | 188 (o -110; u -110) |
Serbia vs. USA Olympic Betting Evaluation
The largest questions getting into the primary Serbia vs. USA matchup of those Video games have been:
- No. 1: Did U.S. coach Steve Kerr have his lineup and rotation discovered?
- No. 2: What model of Kevin Durant would the People have at these Olympics?
USA seems to have recognized beginning lineup
Kerr has performed a ton of fellows, with everybody on this roster apart from Tyrese Haliburton having seen important minutes in at the very least one of many U.S.’s first 4 video games.
And whereas seven gamers have began at the very least one sport, Kerr began the identical 5 towards each Serbia on July 28 and within the quarterfinal vs. Brazil on August 6: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Jrue Vacation and Stephen Curry.
James, Booker and Curry have began each sport, whereas Embiid and Vacation have began three and two video games, respectively. Anthony Davis began the South Sudan sport instead of Embiid, whereas Jayson Tatum began towards South Sudan and Puerto Rico after a shocking DPN in his staff’s opener vs. Serbia.
Wholesome Kevin Durant makes Workforce USA just about unguardable
Durant missed his staff’s pre-Olympics exhibition matches because of a calf harm which raised issues over his availability. However all he wanted to make it clear that he was prepared to assist lead his staff to a different Olympic Gold Medal was the primary half of the opener vs. Serbia.
Durant’s scorching taking pictures (8-for-9 from the sector, together with 5-of-5 from 3) despatched a message to the sector that even in restricted minutes, he could make a staff that’s already exhausting to cease that rather more potent.
He posted pedestrian taking pictures and scoring numbers towards South Sudan, Puerto Rico and Brazil, however the specter of one other scorching taking pictures evening from Durant makes it exhausting to think about something apart from one other comfy U.S. victory.
Can Serbia flip the script from 3-point land?
The presence of not simply Jokic, but additionally Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, Warmth ahead Nikola Jovic and former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic, made Serbia an intriguing darkhorse getting into the Olympics, particularly after Bogdanovic led a roster that didn’t function Jokic to silver on the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
However within the Group C opener, Serbia didn’t hold tempo with Workforce USA after halftime because of a poor taking pictures efficiency. When Bogdanovic is at his finest, as he was towards South Sudan (30 factors, eight assists on 10-for-14 FG taking pictures), Serbia might need an opportunity to hold with the U.S. for 40 minutes.
However Serbia will needn’t solely Bogdanovic, who has revamped 38% of his 3-pointers in his NBA profession, however the whole roster to get scorching from outdoors to ship the People dwelling.
Serbia made simply 9 of its 37 3-point makes an attempt (24%) towards the People on July 28 — with Jokic and Bogdanovic going simply 3-for-12 from downtown. On the similar time, it allowed Workforce USA to make 18-of-32 from outdoors, which is the most important purpose that sport obtained away from Serbia after halftime.
Within the semifinal rematch, if Serbia can do a greater job retaining observe of the People’ high shooters and restrict the USA to round 40% taking pictures from the perimeter (which is admittedly a lot simpler stated than performed), and Jokic and/or Bogdanovic can get scorching, Thursday’s sport might be as aggressive from begin to end as the primary half of those groups’ earlier matchup.
Serbia vs. USA Prediction, Greatest Bets
Whereas there is definitely a case for Serbia to maintain this sport shut, particularly if Workforce USA struggles from past the arc, there is no denying that the People have far more firepower than Serbia (or anybody else within the Olympics).
The U.S. has received, and received huge, in a wide range of methods at these Olympics, and it is nearly unfair {that a} staff can have the likes of Durant and Anthony Edwards coming off the bench.
It isn’t unreasonable to take a flier on Serbia to maintain Thursday’s semifinal fascinating for a half, or a bit greater than that. That is very true if Embiid is on the courtroom for prolonged minutes and as soon as once more struggles towards Jokic, which is a definite risk.
Actually, whether or not you suppose Serbia is actually more likely to lead this sport at halftime or not, Serbia first-half moneyline is terribly tempting at practically 5-to-1.
However over 40 minutes, the U.S. is simply too deep to suggest a guess on something apart from the chalk.
Greatest bets:
- Serbia first quarter unfold +5.5 (-112) FanDuel
- Serbia 1H unfold +10.5 (-122 at FD) OR Serbia 1H moneyline (+490 at FD)
- USA -16.5 (-112) FanDuel
Newsweek could earn an affiliate fee should you enroll by means of the hyperlinks on this article. See the sportsbook operator’s phrases and circumstances for essential particulars. Sports activities betting operators haven’t any affect over newsroom protection.
