Olympic Basketball Live Stream: Where to Catch London's Most Critical Games

Check here for live streams and times of the biggest men’s 2012 Olympic basketball games.

Let’s face it, any Team USA basketball game is a marquee event in the 2012 Summer Olympics. If Team USA loses, it will be a huge event celebrated by national basketball teams around the world who have played in the shadow of the Americans for most of the game’s history.

The men’s medal rounds have yet to be determined, but a good idea of the teams vying to advance to the quarterfinals does exist. USA, France and Argentina are the favorites in Group A, while Spain, Brazil and Russia lead the charge from Group B.

The quarterfinals will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 8 and lead to the semifinals on Friday, Aug. 10.

The bronze-medal game will be on Sunday, Aug. 12, at 6:00 a.m. ET. Also, the gold-medal game will be played on Aug. 12 but will go down at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Take a look at some of the exciting preliminary-round matchups that are sure to excite.

You might notice all of Team USA’s games are included. Who wouldn’t want to watch Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the court together?

USA vs. France

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Sunday, July 29 at 9:30 a.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

France vs. Argentina

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Tuesday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

USA vs. Tunisia

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Tuesday, July 31 at 5:15 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

USA vs. Nigeria

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Thursday, Aug. 2 at 5:15 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Russia vs. Spain

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Saturday, Aug. 4 at 6:15 a.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

USA vs. Lithuania

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Saturday, Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Brazil vs. Spain

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Monday, Aug. 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Watch: MSNBC (3:30 p.m. ET)

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

USA vs. Argentina

Where: Olympic Park Basketball Arena, London, England

When: Monday, Aug. 6 at 5:15 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

These preliminary games will set the tone for the medal rounds and will provide a strong indication of who, if anyone, is up to the challenge of defeating Team USA.

Follow me on Twitter @BigHoagowski.