Serbia vs. Australia: Preview and Prediction (July 16, 2024) | Basketball Showcase Game 

After an impressive 79-67 win against France on Thursday, Serbia is in Abu Dhabi for a showdown against Australia. Behind Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Serbs handed the French a demoralizing home loss. The two will try to keep their team unbeaten in the preparation stage before the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Boomers have been in the oil-rich country for a week. They took on the highly-touted Americans featuring LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards and others on Monday. The Aussies clawed back from a big deficit but eventually lost 98-92. Josh Giddey, Patty Mills and Dante Exum will again lead the team versus the favored Serbs.

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Serbia vs. Australia preview, prediction and odds

The sprawling Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will host the showdown between the Serbs and Aussies. Basketball fans can check Courtside 1891 to catch the action.

Moneyline: Serbia (-244) vs. Australia (+171)

Spread: Serbia (-6.5) vs. Australia (+6.5)

Editor’s Note: The odds could change closer to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

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Serbia vs. Australia: Game preview

The Serbs showed in their win against Victor Wembanyama and Co. that they should be counted as legitimate gold medal contenders. Nikola Jokic gave France’s frontline led by “Wemby” and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert fits on defense. If “The Joker” can do that to the intimidating pairing, he might run amok versus Jock Landale and Duop Reath.

The Jokic-led team isn’t all about the Denver Nuggets star. Coach Svetislav Pesic can also count on Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilije Micic, a two-time EuroLeague champ. Bogdanovic perhaps isn’t a big-name player in the NBA, but he is almost always impressive when playing for the national team.

Pesic’s squad will likely be tough to beat with those three leading them.

The Aussies looked like they would be steamrolled by the Americans in their tune-up game. Team USA roared to a 24-point lead before a sloppy second half helped the Boomers’ resurgence.

Coach Brian Goorjian has eight holdovers from the team that took the bronze in Japan, so he has superb continuity. Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova will lead the Aussies’ charge.

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Serbia vs. Australia prediction

The Serbs looked like they were on a mission to prove a point when they defeated the French a few nights ago. The Serbs were all business and even with Nikola Jokic fouling out, beat the host team. If they can bring the same intensity, focus and execution, the Boomers will be hard-pressed to avoid a loss.