USA vs. Montenegro 2023 FIBA World Cup Odds and Preview

By Jeff Stinger • August 31, 2023

Team USA moves to the next phase of the competition after four comfortable wins. They managed three consecutive double-digit victories versus New Zealand, Greece, and Jordan, respectively. The Americans continue their quest to get back the World Cup trophy. So far, head coach Steve Kerr and his crew have plenty of momentum after going perfect in Group C. Simultaneously, they line up next against second-time FIBA World Cup participants Montenegro.

The small Balkan country finished second in Group D with two wins and a loss. They won their opening game against Mexico, followed up by another victory versus Egypt before falling to Lithuania in their final group game. It’s a promising start for head coach Boško Radović, but taking on Team USA will be their biggest challenge yet. The Montenegrins have to put their best foot forward from start to finish keeping this game close.

USA vs. Montenegro 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Game Info

Paolo spins & stuffs it

#USABMNT #WinForUSA pic.twitter.com/CKCl4xm6fy
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 30, 2023

When: Friday, September 1, 2023, 4:40 AM ET
Where: Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines
Live Stream: ESPN+
2023 FIBA World Cup Betting Odds: USA USA (-26.0) // Montenegro (+26.0)

Why Bet on Team USA?

The Americans are the team to beat in this tournament. Their dominant performance over Jordan with the second-most points in the entire competition cemented their position as favorites, opposed to Montenegro.

Team USA’s commanding presence is likely to translate in the second round. The only minor trouble they encountered came in the form of the New Zealand national basketball team, which the Americans eventually brushed aside. They ended up winning that tussle by 27 points. In their final first-round game versus Jordan, the offense scored 110 points. More than that, their impressive defense held the opponent to only 62 points.

As for their figures, Team USA shot 48.8% from the field in their last appearance and held the opponents to 33.3%. Anthony Edwards is the standout player on the team and he did not hold back against Jordan. The Timberwolves star recorded 22 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Furthermore, no player finished with over 22 minutes on the floor which is a testament to coach Kerr’s impressive rotation.

Why Bet on Montenegro?

The other side of the contest is Montenegro who won their first two games of the competition. Game three was the only time they struggled. In the opening clash against Mexico, the Europeans secured a 20-point win to start their campaign on a positive note. Game 2 versus Egypt saw a similar storyline and won 89 to 74. The last first-round game matched up with Lithuania put Montenegro under the line of fire and gave up 91 points which led to the loss. They held on until the third quarter but collapsed in the final minutes.

Taking the helm for Montenegro is Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic. He finished his previous game with 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the loss. Nonetheless, the 32-year-old’s presence will be vital in this face-off with Team USA.

The star is not the only NBA player under Radovic’s guidance. Kendrick Perry and Nikola Ivanovic are also on the lineup, averaging 13.3 and 10 points per game, respectively. Marko Simonovic is also on the roster. The seven-footer averages 7.7 points and is back playing alongside former teammate Nikola Vucevic to try and reach FIBA Basketball World Cup glory.

USA vs. Montenegro Expert Betting Prediction

Montenegro comes off a 20-point loss is alarming as opposed to the United States. The latter’s defense only gave up 62 points and they are likely to lock down the Europeans in this one. Expect the United States offense to take control from the get-go, and their defense is also going to improve to slow down the Montenegro offense. Covering the spread should be doable for the underdogs. If the Europeans can build momentum early on, the narrative could change and deliver a closer match than many anticipate.

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