Spain vs. Australia Olympic Basketball: Start Time, Live Stream, TV Info & More

The outcome of Spain vs. Australia will help paint a much clearer Group B Olympic basketball standings picture.

If the Spanish impose their will and prevail like expected, their momentum will increase greatly. And they’ll need a ton of it to eventually knock out Team USA in a potential gold-medal game matchup. But if the Australians pull off the upset, they’ll put Spain’s title hopes in doubt and give themselves a realistic shot to advance out of the group stage.

Here’s everything you need to know about the contest.

Where: Basketball Arena, London

When: Tuesday, July 31 at 6:15 a.m. ET

Watch: NBC Basketball Network or online at NBCOlympics.com

Betting Line: Spain by 13.5, according to bet365

Key Injuries

After missing pre-Olympic exhibition action with a shoulder injury, Marc Gasol returned against China on Sunday. He only scored five points and grabbed two boards, so it’s safe to say his shoulder is still affecting him. His ability to shake off the rust will play a major role in determining whether or not Tuesday’s contest is close.

What They’re Saying

According to FIBA.com, Pau Gasol’s explained Spain’s slow start against China and vowed that they’d improve in the coming games. He said:

“Our last game was on 24 July and since then we haven't trained that much so we were missing a little bit of rhythm. But we will fix it and get better as the days go by.”

On the Aussies' side, the Associated Press reported that Patty Mills talked about Australia’s late-game letdown vs. Brazil and a shot at redemption against the Spanish. He said (via ESPN):

"

It is a tough loss because you always want to get that first game. But you take all the positives out of this game and move on to Spain and we believe we can get them. If we stick to what we do well—and that's the defensive pressure and running out of that—that's how we can beat teams.

"

Most Important Player to Watch: Patty Mills

Mills is Australia’s only player that’s currently in the NBA. His ability to take over a game is their best shot to pull off an upset. He showed he’s capable of doing just that vs. Brazil, as he recorded 20 points, four assists and seven rebounds.

His effort kept the Australians close against the much more talented Brazilians. The thing is, though, that his scoring wasn’t even efficient—he went 9-for-24 from the field and 1-for-9 from downtown. If Mills can put up strong numbers without forcing the issue, he’ll keep his team close once again.

Key Matchup: Pau Gasol vs. David Anderson

Gasol dominated against China as he dropped 21 points and reeled in 11 boards. Anderson is Australia’s only hope to somewhat match Gasol’s production. He’s their one player besides Mills with any NBA experience after spending three years in America.

Against Brazil, Anderson scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He also shot 2-for-5 from three-point land. He must spread the floor on offense and challenge Gasol on the defensive end for Australia to have a chance in this one.

Prediction

Australia doesn’t boast any household names, but they play well together. They’ll stay within striking distance throughout, but it’d be surprising if the Australians threaten Spain’s lead in the second half. The Spanish are just too talented from top to bottom, featuring a starting lineup and bench filled with NBA-caliber talent.

Spain by 12

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels