Team USA dominated Serbia in the friendly games. Will the mighty Americans get on top again? Catch the game later today at 11:15 PM, Manila time.

USA (0-0)

Starting five:

  • Stephen Curry
  • Anthony Edwards
  • LeBron James
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Anthony Davis

Team USA went 5-0 in the tune-up games, including one against the Serbians last July 17, where they controlled the game basically end-to-end en route to a 104-79 win. They shot 52.9% from the floor (44% from beyond the arc).

Stephen Curry (24 pts six threes), Anthony Edwards (16 pts), and Bam Adebayo (17 pts, 8 rebs) led the team with their play, doing what they do best. But, of course, with the enormous amount of talent in this squad, you just don’t know who’ll showout next. There’s simply too much firepower. The nearly 40-year-old LeBron James, for one, guided the group in crunch time during the last two exhibition matchups against South Sudan and Germany. For all we know, role player and Kawhi Leonard replacement Derrick White may go off. Who really knows?

Then again, we saw these guys be vulnerable vs. an unheralded South Sudan. This good test opposite a good Serbian team may dictate just how prepared and focused they are. 

Serbia (0-0)

Starting five:

  • Aleksa Avramovic
  • Bogdan Bogdanovic
  • Filip Petrusev
  • Ognjen Dobric
  • Nikola Jokic

While ranking among the world’s best in basketball, the Serbians didn’t have an inspiring set of tune-up games – they are also missing Miami Heat youngster Nikola Jovic due to an injury. They lost to Australia and Team USA, and failed to establish any real rhythm in either contest.

The good thing, however, is they are still 0-0 coming in and have had plenty of time to regroup. Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is there to guide the way with his maestro-like play on offense, orchestrating plays and scoring from just about everywhere on the court. Expect him to be used like usual.

Shooter and scorer Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks of the NBA) lead the group of wings. He can operate from various areas and is always an interesting matchup. He should be able to hold his own decently vs. the Americans. The rest of the key guys, meanwhile, like Filip Petrusev, Aleksa Avramovic, and Ognjen Dobric will have a lot to prove too, and they should be wired to perform.

PICKS:

Spread: Serbia (+13)

Over/Under: Over (182.5)