USA Men’s Basketball vs. Puerto Rico Preview: LeBron, Durant, and Curry Aim for Consecutive Wins—Points Earned Could Lock in Top Seed

On August 3rd, the USA men’s basketball team faces Puerto Rico in the final round of group stage matches at the Paris Olympics.

The USA men’s basketball team is determined to succeed at these Olympics, having assembled a star-studded roster led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. The team won all of its exhibition games and encountered little resistance in the first two group stage matches, defeating Serbia by 26 points in their opener and winning by 17 against South Sudan in their second game, securing an advance to the quarterfinals. Their last match is against already-eliminated Puerto Rico, with the only question being how many points the USA will win by.

This time, the USA not only aims to win but also to secure the top seed heading into the quarterfinals. Currently, Germany leads with the best point differential after three wins (+47). After two games, the USA has a point differential of +43, meaning they need only a five-point victory in their final game to clinch the top seed. This should be relatively easy for the USA, given their strong form, particularly since Durant’s return, which has significantly boosted the team’s offensive output, scoring over 100 points in both games. In their previous five exhibition games, they scored over 100 points in only two matches.

In the first two group stage games, the starting lineup for the USA remained uncertain, and there was no fixed rotation. Tatum and Haliburton did not play in the first game, while Embiid sat out the second. All twelve players are NBA stars, presenting a challenge for Coach Kerr, as deciding who doesn’t play can be difficult. However, during the elimination rounds, everyone might get playing time, as there will likely be garbage time. During the group stage, every point counts, so each minute must be played well. Through two games, James and Durant have been consistent, but Curry is still adjusting, shooting just 1-for-9 and scoring only three points in the last game.

Puerto Rico lost both of its first two games and has been eliminated. This match serves as a battle for pride. They had a chance to win against South Sudan in their opener but could not hold on in the second half, losing by 11. Against Serbia in their second game, the gap in skill was evident, resulting in a 41-point loss. Facing an even stronger USA team, Puerto Rico can only hope to minimize their loss. Led by Alvarado, Puerto Rico lacks the depth to make a significant impact, but making it to the Olympics is already a success.

The USA and Puerto Rico are in Group C, along with Serbia and South Sudan. The USA has secured the top spot in the group with two consecutive wins, while Serbia and South Sudan are both 1-1, with their upcoming match determining who will finish second in the group.

>>For more predictions on this game, click >>>