Canada can ensure top seeding in Group A with a win over Spain on Friday.
The pregame narrative: The Canadians have already beaten Greece and Australia and are sizeable favourites against a Spanish team which risks bowing out of the tournament with a loss. I expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the charge and I'm fading Dwight Powell on the glass.
Check out our Canada vs. Spain props for the Olympic men's basketball game on August 2.
Canada vs. Spain basketball props
Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip. Note: Lines have changed/market no longer available if grey.
| Canada vs. Spain props | Odds | Bet now ⬇️ |
| GIlgeous-Alexander over 20.5 points | -112 | Add to betslip |
| Powell under 5.5 rebounds | -118 | Add to betslip |
Go to full Canada/Spain betting markets
Best Bet: Gilgeous-Alexander over 20.5 points (-112)
Gilgeous-Alexander holds the highest point total of anyone in this game, even though his teammate RJ Barrett leads the Canadians in both PPG (23.5) and field goal attempts (27).
But I expect the 2024 MVP candidate to take the leading role agianst Spain.
SGA put up 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting against Greece in Canada's opener and nine of those points came at the charity stripe.
He only had 16 points in Tuesday's win over Australia but that was on a hyper-efficient 8-of-10 shooting. I'm more encouraged by that performance where he fell under this total than the previous one, where he cleared it.
Spain hasn't looked great through two games and gave up 92 points to Australia in a game which was never really close. 35-year-old Patty Mills ran point for the Aussies in that game and dropped 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
The Spaniards did beat Greece, and while Giannis Antetokounmpo got his licks in, backup PG Vassilis Toliopoulos also dropped 14 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander can fill the basket with the best of them and seemingly has a plus matchup. Bet on him to have a statement game.
Key stat: Gilgeous-Alexander's 30.1 PPG was the third most in the NBA last season.
Other picks
Powell under 5.5 rebounds (-118): One of Canada's weaknesses is the lack of a bonafide big man.
Powell, who stands at 6-foot-10 and weighs 240 pounds, has done a solid job but isn't a massive threat on the glass. He averaged just 4.1 rebounds per game in his last season as an NBA starter (2022-23).
The veteran recorded nine boards against an undersized Aussie team and finished with four against Giannis and Greece.
Spain has a pair of 6-foot-11 players in Santi Aldama and Willy Hernangomez who should give him trouble. Head coach Sergio Scariolo likes to roll through the lineup but isn't afraid to have two big men on the floor at the same time.
Aldama and Hernangomez have started both games for Spain.
Picks made at 12:20 p.m. ET on 08/01/2024.
