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Will Kevin Durant & Damian Lillard Play? Team USA vs Spain Tokyo Olympics Basketball 2020: Prediction, Injuries, and Lineups

Published 08/01/2021, 11:52 PM EDT

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via Reuters

In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Team USA Men’s basketball unit is not just winning, they’re crushing their opponents to pieces. Coming after a loss to France, Kevin Durant led team won both their last games with an average point difference of an unthinkable 44.5 points. Now, their next and potentially the toughest opponent till now is Team Spain.

The Spanish team is coming off a fresh loss against Luka Doncic’s Slovenian team in a closely fought game. They lost 87-95 and allowed Luka’s side to stay undefeated at the Summer Games. Given that show, how are their odds of beating the supremely talented US team?

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Team USA vs Spain Quarters: Injury updates and lineup prediction

For the US side, all their blows came prior to the start of the event. Fortunately, they do not have any addition to injuries/safety protocol inclusions. 

Probable starting five – Damian Lillard (PG), Zach LaVine (SG), Kevin Durant (SF), Draymond Green (PF), and Bam Adebayo (C).

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There’s no reported injury for Spain either as they’ll have Rudy Fernandez helping Ricky in the backcourt. Also, the Lakers’ Marc Gasol will help them as the only big name in the lineup. 

Potential starting lineup – Ricky Rubio (PG), Rudy Fernandez (SG), Alberto Abalde (SF), Victor Claver (PF), and Marc Gasol (C).

WATCH: Kevin Durant Hilariously Mocks Czech Republic Players As Team USA Cruise to Another Win in Tokyo Olympics 2020

Who wins? 

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Team Spain is a tough opponent irrespective of how they played in their last match. They’re a #2 FIBA ranked squad and also the World Cup champions. Led by Ricky Rubio, the Spanish side is a rotation-heavy unit and lacks stars in the starting roster. For them to match with the highly athletic American team will not come easy. In the group stage, their offensive average remained 85.3 points, almost a 20-point difference from the states. 

Team USA, on the other hand, is enjoying the comeback of Kevin Durant after some initial troubles. Plus, Jayson Tatum is increasingly proving as a clutch performer, joining hands with Damian Lillard as a prolific long-range shooter. Throw in the two-way excellence of NBA Champion Jrue Holiday and they’re a brutal force. 

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Our prediction is a 10-point win for the American side. Do you agree with the assessment? Help us learn in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh

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Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
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