Paris 2024 Men’s Basketball Gameday Odds (July 27): Greece vs. Canada Prediction

The Olympic torch has been lit, and the world turns its attention to the basketball court where Team Canada is poised to make its mark in the group stage. Team Canada is set to kick off their group stage campaign with a highly anticipated matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Team Greece. This marks a historic moment for Greece, who have qualified for the Olympics for the first time during the Giannis Antetokounmpo era. It’s a historic moment for the Greeks, who last graced the Olympic stage back in 2008.

Canada finds itself in what is widely regarded as the ‘Group of Death,’ a challenging group that includes formidable opponents such as Australia and Spain. This group is renowned for its concentration of top talent and intense competition among the four teams. The stakes are incredibly high, with only the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-place finishers, progressing to the quarter-finals. Every game is crucial, and securing a victory against any team, notably one considered the weakest in the group in Greece, will be key in their quest for a spot in the next stage of the tournament.

Greece vs. Canada Betting Odds

Greece Moneyline Odds	+260
Canada Moneyline Odds	-320
Over/Under	172.5 points (over +100, under -120)
Spread	Canada -7.5 (-110)
Time/Date	July 27, 3:00 p.m. ET
TV	Broadcast: CBC Stream: CBC Gem

All odds courtesy of

Betting on Team Canada (0-0)

In their pre-Olympic basketball friendlies, Team Canada posted a 2-1 record, with their only loss coming against Team USA in their opening game, where they were defeated 86-72. RJ Barrett was the standout performer for Canada in that matchup, contributing 12 points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes of play.

Canada rebounded strongly in their subsequent games, securing victories against France and Puerto Rico. In the contest against France, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental, delivering an impressive performance with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Barrett also had a notable game, adding 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists to the tally. The team’s success continued against Puerto Rico, where Dillon Brooks took the lead, scoring 21 points and adding five rebounds and three assists.

With three players stepping up as leading scorers in their three exhibition games—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, and Dillon Brooks—Team Canada showcases a versatile offensive threat. The anticipated return of Jamal Murray, the star guard from the Denver Nuggets, further enhances this dynamic scoring potential. He has been limited in the exhibition games but is expected to debut in Saturday’s game.

Betting on Team Greece (0-0)

In their Olympic basketball friendlies, Greece recorded a 1-1 record, securing a victory over Puerto Rico while falling to Serbia. Notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo did not participate in the game against Puerto Rico but was active in the match against Serbia.

In the win over Puerto Rico, Konstantinos Mitoglou led Greece with a standout performance, scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds. When facing Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo was Greece’s top scorer, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 25 minutes of play. However, Greece struggled to contain the Serbian duo of Bojan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic. Bogdanovic and Jokic were exceptional, combining for a formidable 35 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, ultimately proving too much for Greece to overcome.

Greece vs. Canada Injury Concerns

• After being rested for the game against France, Jamal Murray saw limited action in the exhibition game against Puerto Rico, logging just 7 minutes on the court. However, it is anticipated that Murray will see a more significant role in Saturday’s game against Greece, with expectations set for him to play at least 20 minutes.
• On the Greek side, Kostas Antetokounmpo will unfortunately miss the entirety of the Olympic Games due to a knee injury, which has sidelined him from participating in the tournament.

Olympic Men’s Basketball Betting Trends

• Two of the three exhibition games that Canada played landed on the under on total points.
• Both of Greece’s exhibition games also landed on the under.

Olympic Men’s Basketball Player Prop Trends

• Giannis Antetokounmpo over 25.5 points: -115. Anticipate a dominant performance from Antetokounmpo in his first Olympic game. Giannis is poised to make a significant impact as the main offensive option and the standout player on the court. Team Canada lacks a formidable big man capable of effectively guarding him, which means Giannis will likely have a field day against their defence.
• RJ Barrett over 19.5 points, assists and rebounds: -130. Barrett enjoyed an impressive season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging nearly 22 points and six rebounds per game. His strong performance has continued into the exhibition friendlies, where he has showcased his scoring and rebounding prowess. Given his recent form, it would not be surprising if Barrett surpasses his typical performance metrics in the upcoming games.
• Dillon Brooks over 1.5 threes: +120. Brooks has been excelling in his three-point shooting, taking a decent volume of shots and consistently converting them. In the last two friendlies against France and Puerto Rico, Brooks demonstrated his shooting prowess by making two or more three-pointers in each game.

Greece vs. Canada Predictions

• Canada -7.5 Spread: -110. The disparity in talent between the two teams appears substantial. While Greece boasts the top player on the court in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Canada has a considerable edge in depth and NBA talent across their roster. Given Canada’s superior depth and overall skill, it’s reasonable to expect them to secure a victory by 8 points or more.
• Under 172.5 Total Points: -120. In the friendlies, Greece has not exceeded 72 points in any game. Meanwhile, Canada has surpassed this mark only once in their exhibition matchups. Given these scoring trends, it seems likely that the upcoming game is projected to stay under the total points line.