United States vs. Serbia 2016, Olympic basketball: Time, TV schedule and team news for gold medal game

Having finished off their old rival Spain in a semifinal clash, Team USA is on the brink of their third straight gold. Serbia will do their best to pull off a colossal upset in the Olympic gold medal game, which you can watch on NBC or via streaming at NBC Sports at 2:45 p.m. ET.

Team USA’s performance in the Rio Olympics can best be described as uneven, but they’re in the gold-medal game all the same. They’ve lacked the sort of “complete” performances USA Basketball fans have grown accustomed to, and now would be the best possible time to bust one out.

Thankfully for the U.S., their defense seems to be coming together when they need it most. DeAndre Jordan’s inclusion in the starting lineup against Spain changed the dynamic of the team, adding a level of rim protection and athleticism Team USA desperately needed. Nitpickers would say changes were warranted long before the semifinals, but better late than never, right?

The impact of Jordan’s insertion highlights the newness of this Team USA outfit. A month into their journey together they’re far from a finished product, with lineup and rotation changes happening in pivotal elimination games. Most international programs would be unable to shoulder that burden on such a big stage, but USA’s talent allows them to tinker while other teams rely on tried and true philosophies.

Serbia will hope to capitalize on that instability. They’ve proven to be more than capable of taking teams out of their groove. In their semifinal clash against Australia, the Serbs didn’t give up a single inch, forcing their opponent into tough shot after tough shot en route to a blowout victory.

Team USA and Australia are hardly comparable given the former’s reliance on creation in isolation, but they should fear Serbia’s organization all the same. The Serbian coaching staff has proven themselves on the X’s and O’s front, designing winning game plans their players have executed to perfection.

Fresh off a dominating performance in the semifinal round, Miloš Teodosić will anchor the attack for the Serbians against the U.S. If America can shut down the two-man game of Teodosić and Nikola Jokić, it’ll go a long way toward stifling Serbia.

USA Basketball can’t treat the opportunity for another gold medal as a foregone conclusion. Serbia is too good and too tough to overlook, and they’ll make Team USA earn the victory through blood, sweat and tears.

Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live stream: NBC Sports