After some surprisingly close exhibition games before the 2024 Paris Olympics, some wondered if the United States men's national basketball team would be challenged during the Olympics. During the Group Phase of competition, Team USA has proven any doubters wrong by demonstrating just how great they are.
The Americans have won both of their first two group play games in blowout fashion. Now, they are slated to face the only 0-2 team in Group C: Puerto Rico. With that game right around the corner, we will detail how you can watch Team USA's third and final Group Phase game before the start of the quarterfinals.
When is Team USA's third Group Phase game?
A win in their third Group Phase game would secure Team USA a spot in the knockout stages. That game will come against Puerto Rico, and it is at 11:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 3. In Paris time, that is at 5:15 p.m. Olympic basketball games are played at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France.
How to watch Team USA vs. Puerto Rico
The entirety of the Olympic Games are being broadcast on NBC. That means you can also watch the United States take on Puerto Rico on peacock, fuboTV, the NBC app, the NBC Olympics app, NBCOlympics.com, and NBC.com.
Date: Saturday, Aug. 3 | Time: 11:15 a.m. ET
Location: Pierre Mauroy Stadium — Lille, France
TV channel: NBC | Live stream: fuboTV (click for a free trial)
United States vs. Puerto Rico storylines
Team USA won their first game against Serbia by a score of 110-84. They then beat South Sudan 103-86. They are now slated to face a Puerto Rico team that lost to both of the teams, the former by a score of 107-66. Still, Team USA can not underestimate their opponent.
Puerto Rico is a team with plenty of NBA talent. Notably, Jose Alvarado leads the squad. Nicknamed “Grand Theft Alvarado,” the New Orleans Pelicans point guard grew in fame because of his signature come-from-behind full-court press steal. Tremont Waters, Davon Reed, and Gian Clavell are other current or former NBA players on the roster.
Even so, The Americans will be big favorites against Puerto Rico. After Kevin Durant and LeBron James had big games against Serbia, the South Sudan game was Bam Adebayo's time to shine. Joel Embiid, Team USA's regular starting center, didn't play after dealing with an illness, which allowed the Miami Heat big man to step up.
Adebayo led the American scorers with 18 points. He also added seven rebounds and two blocks to his stat total. Kevin Durant (again) also had an impressive game. Durant is the best player in Team USA history, and he led the team in scoring in the first game of the Olympics this year. In game two, he was still able to manage 14 points and a 2-2 performance from three-point land. Durant has now made all seven of his shots from deep through two games.
Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton both made their 2024 Olympic debuts against South Sudan, too. Both players were forced to sit the bench against Serbia, but they both proved that they are worthy of their roster spots in Team USA's last game. Now, Steve Kerr will have some interesting decisions to make in regards to Team USA's rotation. Playing all 12 of the Americans has proven to be tough, but there isn't a clear choice to bench, and Embiid will probably need to be inserted back into the rotation.
Regardless, the United States vs. Puerto Rico game will be the final of the Group Phase before the Americans are given the chance to take on teams from other groups en route to making a run for the gold medal.
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