It won’t be a cakewalk for the United States men’s basketball team, and the challenge begins in the first game of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA begins its quest for its fifth straight gold medal against reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia. The two nations are expected to be the top squads in Group C.
The United States enters the Olympics after winning all five showcase games, though not without a threat. LeBron James and co. narrowly defeated Germany and South Sudan, and Kevin Durant has been dealing with an injury throughout the exhibition matches.
That said, the United States defeated Serbia 105-79 in their scrimmage on July 17. Team USA seemed to find an answer for Jokic, proving the three-time NBA MVP can be stopped.
Serbia has had over a week to adjust and should present a much more formidable challenge in the team’s opening Olympic game.
The Sporting News has you covered on live scores, updates and highlights from the U.S. vs. Serbia Olympic men’s basketball matchup.
MORE: Watch the 2024 Olympics live with FuboTV (Free trial)
USA vs. Serbia basketball score
| Group C | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F |
| Serbia | 20 | — | — | — | — |
| United States | 25 | — | — | — | — |
USA vs. Serbia live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympics
(All times Eastern)
Second quarter
11:48 a.m.: Kevin Durant simply cannot miss. He checks out after an impressive stint with 14 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers. USA leads Serbia 38-25 midway through the second quarter.
11:42 a.m.: Kevin Durant is on fire. After missing all five exhibition games, Durant hit his first four shot attempts in his return. He’s already up to 11 points in under five minutes. Team USA leads Serbia 32-25 with 7:24 to play in the half.
End of first quarter: USA 25, Serbia 20
11:38 a.m.: The United States overcame a slow start to end the first quarter on an 11-0 run. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have six points apiece to lead the team, while LeBron James has five points and two assists.
Nikola Jokic was held to just three points and had three turnovers in the first frame.
11:38 a.m.: Anthony Davis heads to the bench after picking up his second foul with under a minute remaining in the frame.
11:37 a.m.: Kevin Durant, again! He knocks down another triple on his second shot attempt to spark Team USA to another 9-0 run.
11:31 a.m.: Kevin Durant checked in with 2:33 remaining in the quarter and immediately knocked down a 3-pointer. Welcome back, KD.
11:29 a.m.: The United States has come charging right back. Devin Booker knocked down a pair of triples to spark a 9-0 Team USA run but Serbia has weathered the storm. Serbia still leads 20-14 with three minutes to play in the first.
11:23 a.m.: Serbia is taking it to the United States early. Aleksa Avramovic has six quick points to give Serbia a 10-2 lead. USA head coach Steve Kerr took a timeout and subbed out a struggling Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis to try and change up the energy.
11:20 a.m.: Jrue Holiday’s defense forces a turnover and it turns into a LeBron James fastbreak dunk the other way.
Team USA’s FIRST points of the #ParisOlympics courtesy of LeBron James! 🔥
📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/OWMHHc3vwD
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2024
11:16 a.m.: Aleksa Avramovic gets the first basket to go and we’re underway! Serbia takes a 2-0 lead to start the game.
Pregame
11:15 a.m.: Serbia will start Bogdan Bogdanovic, Ognjen Dobric, Aleksa Avramovic, Filip Petrusev and Nikola Jokic.
11:08 a.m.: Kevin Durant will come off the bench in his first game back. Head coach Steve Kerr will start Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid — the starting group he used the most during the exhibition games.
🇺🇸 #USABMNT Olympic Opener Starting Five
📺 @nbc @peacock #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/NE8VAv8UbH
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 28, 2024
10:15 a.m.: An hour out from tip-off, USA Basketball announced that Kevin Durant (calf) is set to make his 2024 Team USA debut against Serbia.
Kevin Durant is available for today’s 🇺🇸 #USABMNT Olympic matchup vs Serbia (11:15 am ET, NBC)! pic.twitter.com/92e6gjvw3e
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 28, 2024
How to watch USA vs. Serbia at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Date: Sunday, July 28
- Time: 11:15 a.m. ET
- TV channel: NBC
- Livestream: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo
Fans can watch Team USA take on Serbia on NBC on Sunday, July 28 at 11:15 a.m. ET. For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.
Men’s Olympic basketball schedule 2024
Saturday, July 27
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group A | Australia vs. Spain | 5 a.m. |
| Group B | Germany vs. Japan | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group B | France vs. Brazil | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group A | Greece vs. Canada | 3 p.m. |
Sunday, July 28
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group C | South Sudan vs. Puerto Rico | 5 a.m. |
| Group C | Serbia vs. United States | 11:15 a.m |
Tuesday, July 30
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group A | Spain vs. Greece | 5 a.m. |
| Group A | Canada vs. Australia | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group B | Japan vs. France | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group B | Brazil vs. Germany | 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, July 31
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group C | Puerto Rico vs. Serbia | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group C | United States vs. South Sudan | 3 p.m. |
Friday, Aug. 2
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group B | Japan vs. Brazil | 5 a.m. |
| Group A | Australia vs. Greece | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group A | Canada vs. Spain | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group B | France vs. Germany | 3 p.m. |
Saturday, Aug. 3
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group C | Puerto Rico vs. United States | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group C | Serbia vs. South Sudan | 3 p.m. |
Tuesday, Aug. 6
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 5 a.m. |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 a.m. |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | Noon |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 3:30 p.m. |
Thursday, Aug. 8
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Semifinal | TBD vs. TBD | 11:30 a.m. |
| Semifinal | TBD vs. TBD | 3 p.m. |
Saturday, Aug. 10
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Bronze medal game | TBD vs. TBD | 5 a.m. |
| Gold medal game | TBD vs. TBD | 3:30 p.m. |
