Paris 2024 basketball: Men's semi-finals preview, schedule and how to watch

With the quarter-finals of basketball at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the rear-view mirror, the semi-finals are around the corner as two teams look to guarantee their spot on the podium as they continue battling for the gold medal on 8 August at Bercy Arena.

A few days after Germany got the better of France in the final game of group play, the home nation will have a chance for revenge in the nation’s capital. Both sides are coming off comfortable victories in the quarter-finals, France winning 82-73 over Canada and the Germans beating Greece 76-63.

Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder were potent against France in their previous matchup, combining for 52 points. It is also important to note that France could utilize a different starting lineup than they did in the first matchup against Germany, as they replaced Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier in their first five against Canada.

The other semi-final will also be a rematch, this one being between the United States and Serbia. Team USA has not been challenged yet at the Games, steamrolling Brazil in the quarter-finals. On the other hand, Serbia is coming off one of the most intense games of the tournament, beating Australia in overtime after trailing by as many as 24 in the first half.

In their first matchup, both teams' opening game of group play, Team USA beat Serbia by 26 points. Kevin Durant and LeBron James combined for 44 points, while Nikola Jokic scored 20 points, five rebounds and eight assists.

Basketball stars to watch during the semi-finals

Franz Wagner continues to be one of the best players at the Games at just 22 years old as Germany rolls on to the semi-finals. He has been especially aggressive attacking the basket, most notably throwing down a left-handed dunk in transition, narrowly evading the reach of Victor Wembanyama. Wagner will need to maintain this level of play to knock off France again.

Wembanyama has had moments of dominance in his first Olympics but it has been a complete team effort from France to reach this point in the tournament. But if France hopes to move into the gold medal game, he will need to take it up a notch by making his impact felt in the paint on both ends of the court.

Jokic has been consistent at Paris 2024, being the maestro of Serbia’s offense, dominating the glass and flirting with triple doubles. However, to beat Team USA, he will likely need his biggest performance yet - which he is more than capable of.

Whenever he has been on the floor, Durant has been the player Team USA looks to for a bucket. The 35-year-old has scored often and efficiently from all levels, passing Lisa Leslie as Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in the quarter-final win over Brazil.

Men’s basketball semi-finals schedule

Both games of the men’s basketball semi-finals will take place on 8 August at Bercy Arena in Paris.

France vs Germany

11.30 a.m. EST

United States vs Serbia

3 p.m. EST

Full Olympic basketball schedule here.

How to watch men’s basketball semi-finals at Paris 2024 live

All the action from Paris 2024, including basketball, can be watched via media rights holders (MRHs).

MRHs include Nine in Australia, Globo in Brazil, CBC in Canada, CCTV in People's Republic of China, Fuji TV/NHK/Nippon TV/TBS/TV Asahi/TV Tokyo in Japan, SKY NZ in New Zealand, SuperSport in South Africa, NBC in the United States, and Discovery Eurosport across Europe, alongside France Télévisions in France, ARD/ZDF in Germany, and BBC Sport in the United Kingdom, among others.

Check listings in other regions for your local broadcaster.