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After winning its first two group games by comfortable margins, the U.S. men’s basketball team will look to close out group play with another win over Puerto Rico on Saturday at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA followed up its 26-point blowout of Serbia with a 17-point victory over South Sudan on Wednesday.
The Americans played much better than during the exhibitions, when they edged South Sudan by just one point despite being 41.5-point favorites. Bam Adebayo led the way for Team USA, scoring 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds off the bench.
Puerto Rico, on the other hand, has lost both of its group games by double digits, falling to South Sudan and Serbia. Wednesday’s game against Serbia was especially poor, as Puerto Rico was outscored in every quarter and lost by 41.
You can bet on Team USA vs. Puerto Rico at many online sportsbooks. Most online betting sites have plenty of odds and lines for the game, along with special promotions for new customers.
Can Team USA wrap up group play with another easy win? Or will Puerto Rico finally get in the win column with a major upset?
Here’s everything to know about this Group C showdown along with some of our best bets.
United States vs. Puerto Rico Betting Preview
Game Details
- Who: United States vs. Puerto Rico
- When: Saturday, Aug. 3
- Time: 11:15 a.m. ET
- Where: Lille, France
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: N/A
- Spread: USA -32.5 (-110), Puerto Rico +32.5 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 188.5 (-110/-110)
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Subject to change.
Unsurprisingly, Team USA enters this game as a massive favorite against Puerto Rico. The Americans’ roster has much more depth and talent, which is why they’re the heavy favorites to win gold (-600) in Paris.
After struggling at times during exhibition play, Team USA has found its rhythm in group play. The Americans showed off their remarkable balance with six players scoring in double figures. They’ve also shot the ball incredibly well, hitting 57.6% of their field goals and 50% of their 3-pointers.
Steve Kerr has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal, so much so that Team USA can still blow teams out even when he benches his superstars. Jayson Tatum and former NBA MVP Joel Embiid didn’t play against Serbia and South Sudan, respectively, and either one would likely be the best player for any other country.
The Americans have dominated, and it’s hard to imagine Puerto Rico putting up much of a fight here. The teams that beat them handily both lost to Team USA by double-digits, indicating a major talent discrepancy.
The Puerto Ricans started strong against South Sudan in their opener but fell apart in the second half, managing just 25 points after halftime. Their offensive woes continued against Serbia, as they shot just 32.9% from the floor. They also only have one NBA player on their roster (Jose Alvarado), whereas Team USA is loaded with NBA stars.
Team USA has averaged 106.5 points per game in group play so far, while Puerto Rico’s averaged 72.5. Barring an extraordinary shooting performance for Puerto Rico or a horrific one for the Americans, Team USA should win easily.
Team USA vs. Puerto Rico Best Bets
Puerto Rico +32.5 (-110)
As great as the Americans have been, neither of their wins were by more than 30 points. Accordingly, we’re fading them as 32.5-point favorites on the spread.
After losing their first two games, the Puerto Ricans are desperate for a win and will play as hard as they can to get one. They probably won’t succeed, but they might be able to keep the score reasonably close.
Team USA knows it has this game in the bag and will likely ease up in the second half. The Americans were outscored by South Sudan in the second half after finishing the first half with a 19-point lead, allowing the underdogs to cover. Don’t be surprised if that happens again.
Under 188.5 (-110)
After cracking 100 points in both of their games so far, the Americans are going to score. The question is whether Puerto Rico will score enough to hit the Over.
We don’t think so. The Puerto Ricans have scored just 91 points over their last six quarters combined, failing to reach 80 points or shoot 40% in either game. Their offense has looked dysfunctional and is struggling to get quality shots.
Assuming Puerto Rico’s shooting slump continues, the Under has a reasonable chance of hitting.
How to Bet Team USA vs. Puerto Rico
Betting on USA vs. Puerto Rico is similar to betting on an NBA game. Betting sites will have traditional markets like moneyline, spread and total. These markets are all straightforward and easy to understand for newer and casual bettors.
Beyond that, books will offer myriad prop bets on markets like the winning margin, first quarter spread and whether the total points scored will be odd or even. There will also be player props available for statistics like how many points, rebounds or assists a player will get. These bets require more research and are better options for more basketball fans and sports bettors.
Bettors can also combine multiple wagers from the game into a same-game parlay. These bets are riskier and less likely to hit, but they come with higher odds and payouts.
Whichever market you bet on, keep in mind that this is a high-pressure game played in unfamiliar territory for both teams. Accordingly, player performances may be a bit more volatile than usual, especially compared to an NBA game where players have a more defined routine.
As such, remember to bet responsibly and limit your unit size to reasonable amounts.
Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images