USA vs. Tunisia: Start Time, Live Stream, TV Info & Olympics Basketball Preview

Team USA began their quest for Olympic gold and glory on Sunday against France. The Americans handled their business, 98-71, and are now preparing to face lowly Tunisia in a Group A matchup that should be absolutely no problem for the favorites.

Considering that Les Bleus had NBA stars Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw and Ronny Turiaf on the roster, Tunisia—a team with nary a stateside professional basketball player on the squad—have almost no chance of even keeping this contest close.

However, Team USA will not underestimate the FIBA African Champions, and neither should you. Anything could happen in an Olympic competition, which is why you should tune in to catch the exciting action.

Let’s take a look at when and where to catch the game, which players to keep an eye on and make a prediction on the outcome.

Where: Basketball Arena, London, England

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

Watch: NBC Sports Network, NBC Specialty Network: Basketball

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Most Important Player to Watch: Kevin Love

The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar has been in and out of head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s doghouse this summer. It seems that something or someone finally lit a fire under him on Sunday night.

Love put up 14 points (1-of-2 from three-point land and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe) and three rebounds in just 14 minutes of play.

At 6’10”, 260 pounds, the 23-year-old will be instrumental against Team USA’s opponents who have legitimate big men. He has a knack for rebounding and an outside shooting touch that makes him a unique talent on the American side.

He’s important to watch against Tunisia because it remains to be seen if Coach K will give Love more minutes and if the young man will capitalize on them if given the chance. 

Key Matchup: Amine Rzig vs. Kevin Durant

Rzig is Team Tunisia’s best chance of putting up points. He was able to pile in 18 in just 24 minutes of play in a losing effort against Nigeria on Sunday. The 6’6” forward went 7-of-9 from the field, with an impressive 4-of-5 performance from beyond the arc.

However, his American counterpart, KD, is simply in a class of his own. It will be near impossible to slow down the OKC Thunder star, who put in an effortless 22 points in 28 minutes.

Durant already owns the American scoring record for points in a game and points in a tournament and will be looking to set the bar even higher in 2012.

Prediction: USA 94, Tunisia 58