[6][7] The 25-man roster includes six NBA players: guard Bogdan Bogdanović, forwards Nemanja Bjelica, Aleksej Pokuševski, and Alen Smailagić, as well as centers Nikola Jokić and Boban Marjanović; then two All-EuroLeague Team members for the 2020–21 season: guard Vasilije Micić and forward Vladimir Lučić; as well as six domestic league players.

[14][15][16] Center Jokić announced his withdrawal on 16 June, stating that his "body condition requires a longer absence from the court to recover".

[18] Also, coach Kokoškov said the guards Micić and Teodosić and forwards Lučić and Nikola Kalinić will rest during the Acropolis Tournament.

[20][21] Furthermore, guards Marko Gudurić, Ognjen Jaramaz, forward Lučić and the 2019 World Cup team captain Miroslav Raduljica were also cut out from the roster due to injuries.

[10] The following were candidates to make the team: At the end of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup where Serbia won 5th place, head coach Aleksandar Đorđević announced his decision to leave the position after six years.

Serbia was drawn into the Belgrade Tournament Group with the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Italy, and Senegal.

[52][53] On 28 June, Senegal canceled their participation in the tournament due to COVID-19 outbreak in their roster so they will be fortified 0–20 in both scheduled games of Group B.

[57][58][59] Serbia entered the game in a dunk mode, with six of the first ten points coming by throw-downs from Boban Marjanović, Ognjen Dobrić, and Nemanja Bjelica for an early 10–2 lead.

Led by Víctor Liz and Gelvis Solano, they came back and then took the first lead of the game two minutes before the halftime, 46–45, before it was all tied up 47–47 after a very intense first half.

With the third quarter coming to a close, the Serbians raised their game up a notch as they carried this momentum into the fourth where they found their best defense, energy, and offensive rhythm.

The turning point was a zone defensive scheme by Serbia's head coach Igor Kokoškov at the start of the final quarter helped his team buckle down for a 9–0 run.

Fast break points also played a significant role, as the "Eagles" picked up 24 of them, mainly in the fourth quarter, compared to just nine from the Dominicans.

[65][66][67] The Serbia side was in front from the tip-off till the R. J. Abarrientos lay-up at 3:50 to go in the fourth quarter, but on the wings of Boban Marjanović's dominance in the paint, his team finds a way out.

Serbia head coach Igor Kokoškov decided to rest three players from starting a previous line-up due to minor injuries (Nemanja Bjelica, Nikola Kalinić, and Vasilije Micić).

[68] But, a massive problem for the home team occurred in the middle of the fourth quarter, when Stefan Jović helped to leave the floor.

But, in a similar fashion to Serbia's tournament opening game the previous night, they found a way to win it by closing with a 10–2 run.

After a poor three-point shooting night against the Dominican Republic in the tournament opener, the "Eagles" found some rhythm out of the line, scoring 9 from 26 shots.

Serbia won over Puerto Rico at the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final in Belgrade, as well at the 2019 World Cup in China.

Nemanja Bjelica's three-pointer to beat the first-quarter buzzer saw Serbia take a 28–26 lead, one they would never relinquish, much to the delight of fans in Belgrade.

Fueled by their fantastic three-point shooting display as the Italians earned their first Olympics appearance since the 2004 Athens Games, where they won the silver medal.

Many of their attempts fell at the very crucial moments of the game, an instrumental reason why the Italians will be making their country's 13th Olympics appearance in history.