2024 Olympic Men’s Basketball: Puerto Rico vs. Serbia, Odds, Predictions, & Picks

Two winless teams, Serbia and Puerto Rico, face off Wednesday morning after their first performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Puerto Rico’s leader, Jose Alvarado, will try to overcome an injury he suffered in the first match of the tournament. For Serbia, Nikola Jokic will try to lead his side to victory after a blowout loss.

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Serbia is the favorite in this matchup despite losing 26 points in their opening match of the Olympic Tournament. Similarly, Puerto Rico hopes to bounce back from an 11-point loss, in which captain Jose Alvarado suffered an ankle injury despite returning to finish the match. The winner of this match will keep their hope of escaping the group stage alive.

Let’s check out the bets!

Puerto Rico vs. Serbia Betting Odds for 2024 Olympic Men’s Basketball, July 31

Odds courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook. Head to bet365 to place your bets! If you want to try bet365, you can claim up to $1,000 in Bonus bets or Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus bets.

Our Betting Pick for Puerto Rico vs. Serbia

• Total: Over 171.5 (-120) at bet365

Serbia and Puerto Rico are both desperate to find victory on Wednesday. Both need a win to keep their dreams of advancing out of the group stage alive. Los Gallos are a high-scoring side, given their pace of play. However, Serbia should find success in terms of its paint dominance and all-around quality. Given the loser will at least try to make up the difference for an outside shot at third, expect a high-scoring affair.

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Head-to-Head: Puerto Rico vs. Serbia

Puerto Rico Preview

As if Puerto Rico didn’t have the odds against them going into this tournament, their situation worsened as Jose Alvarado suffered an opening match injury to make their chances of escaping the group slimmer. After a first-game loss to South Sudan, Los Gallos faces an uphill battle trying to overcome Serbia for their first win of the tournament.

In their 90-79 loss to South Sudan in their first match, Puerto Rico struggled offensively. Usually a pass-oriented, uptempo team, Puerto Rico was limited to just 38.6% shooting and 19 assists in their opening match. Despite suffering injury, Jose Alvarado was a bright spot, posting 26 points, five assists, and three made threes in 32 minutes of play.

On Wednesday, Puerto Rico must take down last year’s FIBA World Cup silver medalists. Despite Serbia’s blowout loss to the United States in their opening game, Puerto Rico will need a concentrated effort to overcome Nikola Jokic and his supporting cast of inside-outside threats. Los Gallos are outmatched in size, so setting the tempo and playing in transition will be their strength in this matchup.

Bet on Puerto Rico at bet365

Serbia Preview

Serbia hoped to bounce back from their pre-Olympic embarrassment at the hands of the United States, but instead suffered a similar result in their opening match of the tournament. Needing a win to help reclaim hopes of second place in Group C, Nikola Jokic leads Serbia against a hard-nosed Puerto Rico side.

Against the United States, Serbia led for just under six minutes of the 40-minute regulation period. They were outrebounded with ease and outscored in the paint 44-36. They couldn’t keep up with the USA reserves, as their bench was outscored 23 to 47. Nikola Jokic was a bright spot, putting up 20 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in the loss.

Puerto Rico is a threatening team, but Serbia is expected to have the advantage. Serbia must contain Puerto Rico’s three-point shooters, who still hit 11 threes despite shooting just 35.5% in their loss. While their opponents will try to push the tempo, Serbia showed in their opening game that they won't be beaten in transition, by tying Team USA in fast-break points (23).

Bet on Serbia at bet365

How to Watch Puerto Rico vs. Serbia

• Teams: Puerto Rico vs Serbia

• Location: Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille, France

• Date: 11:15 AM EST, Wednesday, July 31, 2024

• TV: NBC, Peacock

More 2024 Paris Olympic Basketball Predictions

• USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics

• Puerto Rico at the 2024 Paris Olympics

• Basketball at Paris Olympics 2024: Gold Medal Winner

• 2024 Olympics Basketball Group C