On Monday, the United States and Spain will continue their group play at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, along with 14 other teams. Both teams are considered strong contenders to win the tournament. Their paths to the title have become somewhat easier with the elimination of France from title contention on Sunday.
The USA, led by Anthony Edwards, will be facing Greece in a highly anticipated matchup between two teams that have won their first two contests in Group C.
Spain, on the other hand, will be taking on Brazil in a Group G matchup. Both teams had impressive victories, winning by a margin of over 30 points on Saturday.
In addition to the USA, Spain, Greece, and Brazil, there will be several other teams in action on Monday across venues in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines. One notable team is Slovenia, led by Luka Doncic.
It promises to be an exciting day of basketball as these teams battle it out in the ongoing FIBA World Cup.
Monday Schedule
China vs. South Sudan (-8.5) (4 a.m. ET)
Venezuela (-7.5) vs. Cape Verde (4 a.m. ET)
New Zealand (-7.5) vs. Jordan (4:45 a.m. ET)
Ivory Coast (-6.5) vs. Iran (5:45 a.m. ET)
Georgia vs. Slovenia (-6.5) (7:30 a.m. ET)
Puerto Rico vs. Serbia (-18.5) (8 a.m. ET)
Greece vs. United States (-22.5) (8:40 a.m. ET)
Brazil vs. Spain (-10.5) (9:30 a.m. ET)
All games can be live-streamed on ESPN+.
Predictions against the spread in bold.
Greece vs. United States
A win against Greece will secure the United States' advancement to the second round of the tournament. Led by Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero, the American team had a convincing victory over New Zealand in their first game. They are expected to achieve another double-digit point win against Greece on Monday.
Although Greece has a member of the Antetokounmpo family, it is not superstar Giannis. Giannis' brother, Thanasis, is the most notable player on the Greek roster for NBA fans. Greece had a solid double-digit win over Jordan in their previous game, but it will be challenging for them to replicate their 92-point performance against a team consisting of NBA stars.
Paolo Banchero played a stellar role in the USA's opening win, scoring 21 points. Other key players like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Miles Bridges, or any other star player on the American team could have exceptional performances against Greece.
It is anticipated that the USA will come close to covering the 22.5-point spread, regardless of which player takes on the starring role.
A victory over Greece will secure the USA's place in the second round, setting them up for their final group-stage game against Jordan, which is expected to be the easiest matchup on paper, taking place on Wednesday.
Brazil vs. Spain
After France's surprising early elimination, Spain should be considered the top European contender in the FIBA World Cup.
In their first game, the Spaniards secured an impressive 30-point victory against Ivory Coast. A win over Brazil in their upcoming match will solidify their position in the second round.
Spain has consistently performed well in the World Cup over the past two decades, never finishing lower than sixth. They are expected to defeat Brazil and finish atop Group G.
Willy and Juancho Hernangomez are the notable players on the Spanish roster. Additionally, Santi Aldama and Usman Garuba, who are NBA players, contribute to the team.
On the other hand, Brazil has two former NBA players, Raul Neto and Bruno Caboclo, in their squad. Caboclo had a strong performance with 16 points and seven rebounds in the opening win against Iran.
It will be challenging for Brazil to reach the 100-point mark for the second consecutive game, and they may struggle to keep the game within single digits against a well-coordinated Spanish team. Spain might view this game as an opportunity to make a statement and assert themselves as the favorites to win the tournament now that France is out of the competition.
