Team USA started the 2023 FIBA World Cup as the favorite and won their first game convincingly against New Zealand. Paolo Banchero, the NBA Rookie of the Year, scored 21 points in that game. In their second game, Team USA will face Greece. However, the game has lost some of its excitement as Giannis Antetokounmpo, the star player for Greece, is unable to participate due to knee surgery. Greece will now be led by Thanasis Antetokounmpo, but they don’t have any other NBA players on their roster. Team USA is expected to win this game comfortably, but fans can still watch the game and see if Greece can cause an upset.
Team USA vs. Greece
- Date: Monday, Aug. 28 | Time: 8:40 a.m. ET
- Location: Mall of Asia Arena — Manila, Philippines
- TV channel: ESPN2 | Live stream: fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Team USA -22.5 | O/U: 178.5
Team USA roster
Storylines
The game against New Zealand didn’t provide much information about how Steve Kerr will manage his rotation in a close matchup. Most players got playing time, but Jalen Brunson played the most with 24 minutes. It’s uncertain how much Banchero will play in games where he will face tougher defensive challenges. Greece is not one of those teams, but they might be able to keep the game close enough to force Kerr to reveal more about the team’s strategies in the medal round.
As for Greece, their main focus is on their upcoming game against New Zealand, which will likely determine the second-place finish in Group C. They have a better chance of advancing to the second round with a win in that game. Therefore, if the game against the US gets out of hand quickly, Greece may choose to rest their key players and preserve them for the upcoming critical game against New Zealand.
Prediction
Unlike the previous game where Team USA couldn’t cover the 35.5-point spread, this game has a more reasonable spread and the opponent is not significantly stronger. While there are teams in the tournament that could challenge Team USA, Greece does not pose a major threat, especially without Giannis Antetokounmpo. It is expected to be an easy victory for Team USA. Prediction: Team USA -22.5
