Two of the three undefeated teams from the group stage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics men’s basketball tournament will face off in the semifinal round of the event on Thursday. Who’ll advance to the gold medal game: world-beater France or upstart Slovenia? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the France vs Slovenia Summer Olympics Men’s Basketball on August 5, 2021
Where: Saitama Super Arena, Chūō-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture
When: Thursday, August 5, 2021, 7:00 AM ET
Line: France (+2.5) vs. Slovenia (-2.5) – view all 2021 Summer Olympics lines
TV Broadcast: NBC
Betting on the France (+2.5)
Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert displayed his offensive chops for France during the team’s 84-75 win over Italy in the quarterfinals. Gobert scored a team-high 22 points while fellow NBA player Nicolas Batum finished with 14 rebounds for France, which is looking to win its first Olympic medal in men’s basketball since taking home the silver in 2000. There’s no denying that Les Bleus are among the heavy favorites to win the entire tournament, especially after stunning Team USA in the group phase of the event. Since that upset, the French have won their next three games by an average of 15.3 points. Other France players worth keeping a close eye on are Nando de Colo and Evan Fournier, who form the team’s formidable backcourt.
Betting on the Slovenia (-2.5)
Even more surprising than France’s performance in Tokyo is Slovenia, which is dominating the entire tournament in its Olympic debut as an independent country that separated itself from the shadows of Yugoslavia. NBA All-Star Luka Doncic is spearheading the team’s success, but it was Zoran Dragic (the younger brother of Heat point guard Goran) who scored a team-high 27 points in Slovenia’s 94-70 rout of Germany in the quarterfinals. Slovenia’s offense, which is averaging a whopping 105.8 points per game in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, should give France’s stifling defense all it can handle in what should be a thrilling semifinal clash. Other Slovenia players worth keeping a close eye on are Vlatko Cancar and former Virginia Cavaliers big man Mike Tobey.
Writer’s Prediction
France wins, 88-82.
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