Serbia vs Puerto Rico: Predicted Starting 5s and Depth Charts for July 31 | 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball

Having both lost their opening 2024 Paris Olympics matches, Serbia and Puerto Rico will know that a win are required here if they want to keep their destiny in their own hands ahead of the final Group C games next week. Puerto Rico’s 90- 79 reversal at the hands of South Sudan on opening night, and Serbia’s 110-84 loss to the Team USA few hours later, have heightened the stakes in this one.

Nelson Colon’s men, playing their first Olympic game since 2004, faced South Sudan in a somewhat close contest. It all came down to who could seize their moments in the end - that was the Olympic debutant, who sealed the win with Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok, and Nuni Omot all contributing double-digit points.

It's fair to say, Serbia had very little chance when they were put up against outright favourites, the Team USA, in their opener. Considered successful for the 2016 silver-medallist was leading the American side for some time, but then it was Kevin Durnat’s time to shine – Phoenix Suns’ in-form star struck 21 points in just 8 minutes to inflict a 58-49 lead on the Serbians by halftime and ultimately securing the victory.

Serbia will inevitably be the favourites on Wednesday though, as they head to the game holding a perfect 5-0 record and as the fourth-best side in the world according to the latest FIBA rankings. By contrast, their Caribbean opponents rank 16th.

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Serbia vs. Puerto Rico: Injury Reports

Both sides come into the game in Northern France with what is relatively a full strength team, other than the fact that Puerto Rico star Jose Alvarado, who suffered right ankle injury during the opener but played through it and is expected to start.

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Serbia vs. Puerto Rico: Starting lineups and depth charts

Serbis starting lineups and depth charts

Coach Svetislav Pesic is likely to retain most of Serbia’s starting five. Nikola Jokic is in ridiculously good form at the moment, so he will looking to continue his scoring exploits in the Olympics.

29-year-old Ognjen Dobric, who produced a stellar performance with 13 points and 2 rebounds is expected to start once more, whilst Aleksa Avramovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic will be looking to add to an impressive display when these sides meet on Wednesday.

Coach Pesic is likely to start the following lineup of Aleksa Avramovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Ognjen Dobric, Nikola Jokic, Filip Petrusev, and Vasilije Micic.

Guard	Forward	Center
Bogdan Bogdanovic	Ognjen Dobric	Nikola Jokic
Aleksa Avramovic	Filip Petrusev	Nikola Milutinov
Vasilije Micic	Nikola Jovic	Uros Plavsic
Vanja Marinkovic	Dejan Davidovac
Marko Guduric

Puerto Rico starting lineups and depth charts

Little is expected in the way of changes for the ‘Los Gallos’, experienced Jose Alvarado and Tremont Waters the standouts to start. Looking to provide more of threat on both ends of the floor this time around, Christopher Ortiz and Pineiro Isiah are expected to lead the line once again while the likes of Conditt IV George, Clavell Gian and Isaiah Pineiro could see themselves come into the fold if the match finds itself up for grabs late on.

Barring any last-minute changes, coach Nelson Colon is expected to start Jose Alvarado, Trenton Waters, George Conditt IV, and Ismael Romero.

Guard	Forward	Center
Trenton Waters	George Conditt IV	Ismael Romero
Jose Alvarado	Isaiah Pinero
Stephen Thompson Jr.	Christopher Ortiz
Davon Reed	Arnaldo Toro
Gian Clavell	Aleem Ford
Jordan Howard

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Serbia vs. Puerto Rico: One player to watch

Picking anyone other than Nikola Jokic as Serbia’s player to watch would be ludicrous. Jokic brings an individual, star quality to what is a fairly average team around him.

His ability on both ends of the court from distance has been demonstrated throughout the years, and watching him jink through a crowd of bodies will never get old. And once again, the Serbian supporters will be looking towards their star man to make an impact for them.