Day 9: What to Watch For

TRACK AND FIELD The marquee event will be the women’s 100 meters, which once again figures to be a showdown between the Americans and the Jamaicans (nbcolympics .com, 4:55 p.m.). Same goes for the men’s 100, where heats begin Saturday, offering the first glimpse of Usain Bolt (nbcolympics.com, 7:30 a.m.). Viewers will also see Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee from South Africa, competing in 400-meter preliminary heats (nbcolympics.com, 5:35 a.m.). Two of Britain’s top track stars are also in action, with Mo Farah in the men’s 10,000 meters (NBC, 4:15 p.m.) and Jessica Ennis, who leads the heptathlon after four of seven events. Track highlights, NBC, 8 p.m. (taped)
MEN’S BASKETBALL After walloping Nigeria in its last group game, the United States should have a more challenging game against Lithuania (NBCSN, 9:30 a.m.). But the better matchup will be in Group B, where Russia and Spain will meet. Both are undefeated, and the victor Saturday would probably also gain the top seed in the group, which could mean avoiding the United States until the gold medal game. NBCSN, 6:15 a.m