Recent history and on-paper potential both predicted Team USA and Spain would collide in the gold-medal matchup. That's where they met in the past two Olympics and what their respective rosters looked capable of this time around.
But rather than play each other for the championship, they'll compete for a spot in the finals. Spain's 0-2 start to the Games put them in America's bracket, so the hoops heavyweights will lock horns one round ahead of schedule.
Their 2008 and 2012 championship collisions were decided by a total of 18 points, and another nail-biter could be in the works.