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11/02/2024 01:38:25 pm

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Rio Olympics 2016 Men's Basketball: Serbia vs China, Preview, Prediction & Predicted Lineup

Chinese star Yi Jianlian tries to score against Australia's Aron Baynes

(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese star Yi Jianlian tries to score against Australia's Aron Baynes. Team Dragon will meet Serbia on Sunday for their final Group A game in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Serbia (1-3, 5 points) and China (0-4, 4 points) face each other in the final game of Group A competitions in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics men's basketball tournament. The match is scheduled on August 14, Sunday at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro.

Serbia is coming off a stunning 94-91 loss to the mighty United States, who they pushed to the limit during their Friday night match in the same venue, as per Yahoo Sports.

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Incoming NBA player Bogdan Bogdanovic missed what would have been an overtime-clinching three-pointer at the buzzer to let head coach Mike Krzyzewski's squad get away with an edgy three-point victory.

The game started according to Team USA's plans as the NBA superstars led 27-15 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Serbian fought back in the second period to trim it to 50-41 at the half.

Head coach Aleksandar Dordevic's men slowly gathered momentum and went closer and closer as the game moved into crunch time and would have won the ballgame if they did not run out of time.

Meanwhile, China suffered their fourth straight loss in the tournament with a 93-68 crushing in the hands of an Andrew Bogut-less Australian five also in Rio last Friday, Fox Sports reported.

Former NBA player Yi Jianlian continued to lead Team Dragon with 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two shot blocks against Australia, but it was still not enough with his teammates not producing much.

China is expected to finish its Olympic campaign this year without a win as Serbia is favored to win by a rout on Sunday behind Bogdanovic's sweet shooting and the inside presence of Denver Nugget Nikola Jokic.

The predicted result is a 100-75 win for Serbia.

Serbia starting lineup: N. Jokic (C), S. Bircevic (PF), B. Bogdanovic (SF), S. Markovic (SG), M. Teodosic (PG)

China starting lineup: Wang Z. (C), Yi J. (PF), Zhou P. (SF), Guo A. (SG), Zhao J. (PG)

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