We are back with another prediction as we move on to the second round of group play in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. It's time for some Group I action as the Dominican Republic puts their undefeated record on the line against Puerto Rico for their first assignment of round two. Check out our FIBA World Cup odds series for our Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic prediction and pick.

Puerto Rico went 2-1 through the first round of the group stage. They survived South Sudan in overtime and took a 101-96 win to open the tournament. Then, they lost by 17 points to Serbia, who went undefeated in Group D. Finally, they dropped China to the tune of a 107-89 victory to secure their spot in the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic went undefeated through the first round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Karl Anthony Towns dominated in their tournament opener with 26 points to lead his country to an 87-81 win over host country Philippines. They then secured their spot in the second round with an 87-82 win over Italy. Finally, the Dominican Republic defeated Angola 75-67 to close the first round.

Here are the 2023 FIBA World Cup odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

2023 FIBA World Cup Odds: Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Odds

Puerto Rico: +9.5 (-113)

Dominican Republic: -9.5 (-113)

Over: 172.5 (-113)

Under: 172.5 (-113)

How to Watch Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic

Stream: ESPN+, Courtside 1891

Time: 8:00 AM ET/ 5:00 AM PT

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Puerto Rico Will Cover The Spread

Devoid of a current NBA player, Puerto Rico enters this matchup as underdogs against a team that features an NBA All-Star in Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite their lack of star power, Puerto Rico has proven itself to be a well-oiled machine in this tournament so far. Six players from Puerto Rico averaged double-digits through the first three games of the tournament.

Tremont Waters, who played 40 games in the NBA, led the way with 16.7 points per game. His best game came during their dominant win over China, where he tallied 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. If Waters is able to carry the momentum from that game, Puerto Rico should be able to make this a competitive contest.

The frontcourt tandem George Conditt and Ismael Romero has also been a steady force in the middle for the Puerto Ricans. Conditt, who played four years at Iowa State, averaged close to a double-double with 10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds through three games. Romero, meanwhile, finished as the team's second-leading scorer with an average of 14.0 points to go along with 8.0 rebounds.

The Puerto Ricans should continue to deploy their by-committee effort if they want to avoid getting their second loss in the tournament. The Dominican Republic didn't really dominate their competition in the first round of group play. They won their games by just an average of 6.3 points, so it is possible for Puerto Rico to hang and just stay within striking distance. This Dominican Republic team is also very top-heavy with Karl-Anthony Towns, Andres Feliz, and Victor Liz being the only real scoring threats.

Why the Dominican Republic Will Cover The Spread

As for the Dominican Republic, their most obvious advantage is the fact that they have an NBA star in Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. Towns dominated through the first two games of the tournament, where he tallied 50 points combined against the Philippines and Italy. The Minnesota Timberwolves center, however, did cool off in their game against Angola, as he finished with just eight points on 2-of-4 shooting.

Despite Towns' off-night, Victor Liz and Andres Feliz picked up the slack as the Dominican Republic staved off a resilient Angola team that entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead. Feliz finished with 17 points in the game, where he went 6-of-7 from the field. Meanwhile, Liz tallied 13 points to go along with eight rebounds and three steals.

The Dominican Republic will need others to step up to help out their big three of Towns, Feliz, and Liz. Their other NBA player, Lester Quinones, has been a no-show so far in the tournament. Quinones, who is on a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, has only scored 11 points so far on a putrid 1-of-14 shooting. He did score seven points in their most recent outing, where he did most of his damage from the freethrow line (5-of-6 FT). If they are able to get Quinones, who had a strong NBA Summer League for the Warriors, they should be more dangerous in this round and against Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico will also have a tough time dealing with KAT due to their undersized stature. If the Puerto Ricans opt to send double teams towards Towns' way, the Dominican Republic should be able to generate open looks for the rest of the team.

Final Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Prediction & Pick

The Dominican Republic should take this one and cover. They have more talent on their team with Towns, obviously, and the likes of Feliz and Liz showing their offensive repertoire in this series. If Quinones is able to break out of his funk and find his rhythm, this should be an easy win for the Dominican Republic.

Final Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Prediction & Pick: Dominican Republic: -9.5 (-115)