Tokyo Olympics, basketball: USA teams look to continue domination
The US men’s team will aim for a fourth-consecutive Olympic gold. Their women have won every Olympic gold medal since 1992. Watch Olympics basketball live!
Some of the best basketball players in history - from Michael Jordan and Larry Bird from the 1992 Dream Team to LeBron James and Kobe Bryant - have been Olympic champions over the years.
The USA have dominated both the men’s and women’s Olympic basketball events. Since the women’s basketball event was introduced at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, USA have won eight gold medals and have won every Olympic gold medal since Atlanta 1996.
The USA women, led by Tokyo 2020 flag-bearer **Sue Bird****,** had a minor blip as they lost to Australia in an exhibition before the Games. However, they bounced back with a win over Nigeria and will start as favourites to win their ninth Olympic gold.
The USA men’s basketball team meanwhile have won 14 Olympic gold medals since it was first introduced in Berlin 1936 and have won the last three Olympic golds.
Superstars Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard form the nucleus of the USA men’s team. The USA lost to Nigeria and Australia in two exhibition matches before beating Argentina and Spain and will need to pull up their socks to advance to the knockouts.
NBA star Luka Doncic and Slovenia will be another team to watch out for in the men’s event.
Basketball format, teams and groups at Tokyo Olympics
A total of 12 teams each will be competing in the men’s and women’s events and the teams are divided into three groups of four teams each.
Teams play each other in the group once in a round-robin format, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals. The two best-placed third teams will also go through to the last eight.
Men’s basketball groups at Tokyo Olympics
Group A: Czech Republic, France, Iran, USA
Group B: Australia, Germany, Italy, Nigeria
Group C: Argentina, Japan, Slovenia, Spain
Women’s basketball groups at Tokyo Olympics
Group A: Canada, Serbia, South Korea, Spain
Group B: France, Japan, Nigeria, USA
Group C: Australia, Belgium, China, Puerto Rico
Tokyo Olympics basketball fixtures, schedule and live India start times
All times are India Standard Time (IST)
Men’s basketball schedule
Sunday, July 25
Group A: Iran vs Czech Republic - 6:30 AM IST
Group B: Germany vs Italy - 10:10 AM IST
Group B: Australia vs Nigeria - 1:50 PM IST
Group A: France vs USA - 5:30 PM IST
Monday, July 26
Group C: Argentina vs Slovenia - 10:10 AM IST
Group C: Japan vs Spain - 5:30 PM IST
Wednesday, July 28
Group B: Nigeria vs Germany - 6:30 AM IST
Group A: USA vs Iran - 10:10 AM IST
Group B: Italy vs Australia - 1:50 PM IST
Group A: Czech Republic vs France - 5:30 PM IST
Thursday, July 29
Group C: Slovenia vs Japan - 10:10 AM IST
Group C: Spain vs Argentina - 5:30 PM IST
Saturday, July 31
Group A: Iran vs France - 6:30 AM IST
Group B: Italy vs Nigeria - 10:10 AM IST
Group B: Australia vs Germany - 1:50 PM IST
Group A: USA vs Czech Republic - 5:30 PM IST
Sunday, August 1
Group C: Argentina vs Japan - 1:50 PM IST
Group C: Spain vs Slovenia - 5:30 PM IST
Tuesday, August 3
Quarter-final 1 - 6:30 AM IST
Quarter-final 2 - 10:10 AM IST
Quarter-final 3 - 1:50 PM IST
Quarter-final 4 - 5:30 PM IST
Thursday, August 5
Semi-final 1 - 9:45 AM IST
Semi-final 2 - 4:30 PM IST
Saturday, August 7
Gold medal match - 8:00 AM IST
Bronze medal match - 4:30 PM IST
Women’s basketball schedule
Monday, July 26
Group A: South Korea vs Spain - 6:30 AM IST
Group A: Serbia vs Canada - 1:50 PM IST
Tuesday, July 27
Group B: Japan vs France - 6:30 AM IST
Group B: Nigeria vs USA - 10:10 AM IST
Group C: Australia vs Belgium - 1:50 PM IST
Group C: Puerto Rico vs China - 5:30 PM IST
Thursday, July 29
Group A: Canada vs South Korea - 6:30 AM IST
Group A: Spain vs Serbia - 1:50 PM IST
Friday, July 30
Group C: Belgium vs Puerto Rico - 6:30 AM IST
Group B: USA vs Japan - 10:10 AM IST
Group B: France vs Nigeria - 1:50 PM IST
Group C: China vs Australia - 5:30 PM IST
Sunday, August 1
Group A: Canada vs Spain - 6:30 AM IST
Group A: South Korea vs Serbia - 5:30 PM IST
Monday, August 2
Group B: Nigeria vs Japan - 6:30 AM IST
Group B: France vs USA - 10:10 AM IST
Group C: China vs Belgium - 1:50 PM IST
Group C: Australia vs Puerto Rico - 5:30 PM IST
Wednesday, August 4
Quarter-final 1 - 6:30 AM IST
Quarter-final 2 - 10:10 AM IST
Quarter-final 3 - 1:50 PM IST
Quarter-final 4 - 5:30 PM IST
Friday, August 6
Semi-final 1 - 10:10 AM IST
Semi-final 2 - 4:30 PM IST
Saturday, August 7
Bronze medal match - 12:30 PM IST
Sunday, August 8
Gold medal match - 8:00 AM IST
Where to watch Tokyo Olympics basketball live in India?
Tokyo 2020 Olympics basketball will be telecast live on the Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India.
Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 3 HD, Sony TEN 4 and Sony TEN 4 HD will broadcast Tokyo 2020 in regional languages. National broadcasters Doordarshan (DD Sports and DD National) will also simulcast the event.
Live streaming of the Tokyo Olympics basketball will be available on Sony Liv.
Live broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.