Jul 28, 2024; Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France; United States guard Kevin Durant (7) and guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrate after a play in the third quarter against Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
- Nikola Jokic and Serbia get another crack at Team USA in the semifinals of the men’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Led by 23 points from Kevin Durant, the US dominated their group-stage game against Serbia, winning by 26 (110-84)
- See the opening Team USA vs Serbia odds, predictions, and picks for Thursday’s semifinal game in Paris
The United States (4-0) had no trouble dispatching of three-time and reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in the group stage of the Paris Olympics, but if Team USA is going to win its fifth straight Olympic gold, it will have to see off another challenge from the Jokic’s Serbia in the semifinals.
The Serbians survived an OT thriller against Australia in the quarterfinals (95-90) while the US breezed past overmatched Brazil (122-87). Oddsmakers see Thursday’s semifinal playing out much like the group-stage game, setting Team USA as a massive favorite in the Serbia vs United States odds.
Serbia vs Team USA – Semifinal Odds (Paris 2024)
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | +16.5 (-110) | +920 | O 184.5 (-110) |
| Team USA | -16.5 (-110) | -2000 | U 184.5 (-110) |
The Americans head into the semifinals as 16.5-point favorites and -2000 on the moneyline. They were only 13-point favorites when they blew out Serbia in the round robin. The Serbians are +920 longshots to advance to Saturday’s gold-medal game. The Serbia vs USA game total has opened at 184.5, two points higher than their group-stage meeting, which finished with 194 total points, well over the 182 O/U.
Odds as of Aug. 6 at FanDuel. Use the top sportsbook promo codes to bet on Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
In addition to being huge favorites to beat Serbia, Team USA was also -600 to win gold even before their quarterfinal with Brazil started.
Serbia Survives Big Scare from Australia
Serbia immediately found themselves in trouble against the Boomers on Tuesday, falling in a 31-17 hole by the end of the first quarter. But they had clawed all the way back to take a two-point lead entering the fourth before eventually winning in OT (95-90).
Jokic wasn’t perfect (0-for-3 from three) but still had team-highs in points (21 on 9-of-17 shooting), rebounds (14), and assists (9).
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 on 6-of-17 shooting.
Serbia’s relatively cold night from beyond the arc (9-of-29, 31%) was a big part of Australia’s ability to stay close despite finishing -4 in rebounding and committing another 20 turnovers (an issue that plagued the Aussie’s all tournament).
Jokic had 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting plus eight assists and five rebounds in 30-plus minutes in the first game against the US but he also committed four turnovers and his team was out-rebounded 39-32. Three-point shooting was the major difference in the first matchup, with the US hitting at 56.3% from beyond the arc and Serbia a measly 24.3%.
USA Makes Short Work of Brazil
In the final game of Tuesday’s quarterfinals, Team USA dominated Bruno Caboclo’s Brazil from the opening tip in a 122-87 massacre. The US led by 12 after the first quarter and by 27 at halftime. For the fourth consecutive game this tournament (i.e. all of the games), the US scored over 100 points in the 40-minute format. They registered their highest point total of the Olympics so far despite no single player hitting the 20-point plateau.
Devin Booker had a team-high 18 while six players in total finished in double-figures.
🚨JOEL EMBIID CHOP ALERT🚨 pic.twitter.com/MEJqGmwZSB
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) August 6, 2024
The US dominated the glass again (45-32) while connecting at 48.4% from beyond the arc from the international three-point line. Booker was 5-of-7 from three while Joel Embiid was a perfect 3-for-3.
Thursday’s semifinal between the USA and Serbia is scheduled to tip-off at 2:30 pm ET.
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
The highly anticipated Olympic semifinal match between Team USA and Serbia in Paris on August 8th is set to be a thrilling showdown between two powerhouse basketball teams. Both teams have shown impressive performances throughout the tournament, making this matchup one of the most anticipated games of the Olympics.
As the defending gold medalists, Team USA is coming into the semifinals with a strong roster of NBA superstars including Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum. The team has shown their dominance on the court with their high-scoring offense and suffocating defense. However, they have faced some tough competition in the tournament, including a close game against Spain in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Serbia has also been a force to be reckoned with in the Olympics. Led by NBA stars Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia has shown their ability to compete with the best teams in the world. They have a well-rounded roster with a mix of experienced veterans and young talent, making them a formidable opponent for Team USA.
In terms of odds, Team USA is currently favored to win the semifinal matchup against Serbia. According to sportsbooks, Team USA has odds of -300 to win the game, while Serbia has odds of +250. This means that a $300 bet on Team USA would result in a $100 profit, while a $100 bet on Serbia would result in a $250 profit.
However, as we have seen throughout the tournament, anything can happen in basketball. Serbia has the talent and experience to pull off an upset against Team USA, especially if they are able to execute their game plan and limit turnovers. The key for Team USA will be to play their brand of basketball and rely on their depth and talent to secure a spot in the gold medal game.
Overall, the Team USA vs Serbia Olympic semifinal matchup is shaping up to be an exciting game between two elite basketball teams. Fans can expect a high-intensity battle on the court as both teams look to advance to the gold medal game. Be sure to tune in on August 8th to see which team will come out on top in this highly anticipated matchup.
