Giannis Antetokounmpo opened the game with the first five points, taking advantage of his size over Josh Nebo, who stands at 6-foot-7. Nick Calathes contributed with several pick-and-roll plays, scoring on a couple of finger rolls to extend Greece’s lead to 9-0 early in the game before the first timeout. Antetokounmpo later added another score with a baseline drive past Vlatko Cancar, finishing with a powerful dunk. Slovenia’s turnover led to a layup for Greece, resulting in a 13-0 lead at the start.
Regarding Greece’s performance, Luka Doncic commented, “Firstly, they have Giannis, who is a handful, and players like Calathes and Walkup do a great job organizing the team. They have experienced players like Papagiannis and Papanikolaou, and they are very well-coached by coach Spanoulis. They’re a strong team, and I wish them the best of luck.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a major impact, supported by a strong Greek team that proved too much for Slovenia to handle in their matchup. Greece utilized their size advantage in the frontcourt to crowd the paint, making it difficult for Luka Doncic to drive and creating opportunities for their teammates. They varied their defensive strategies, occasionally having Antetokounmpo guard Josh Nebo and switching on pick-and-rolls to compress the floor.
Luka Doncic, commenting on Greece’s strengths, noted, “They have Giannis, who is a force, and players like Calathes and Walkup who organize the team well. Papagiannis and Papanikolaou bring experience, and they are well-coached by coach Spanoulis. They’re a skilled team, and I wish them the best.”
Antetokounmpo started the game by scoring the first five points, exploiting matchups against Josh Nebo. Nick Calathes added to Greece’s momentum with pick-and-roll plays, leading to a 9-0 start and prompting Slovenia to call their first timeout. Antetokounmpo continued his dominance with a baseline drive against Vlatko Cancar for a powerful dunk. Slovenia struggled early, falling behind 13-0 before finding some rhythm with a 12-7 run to narrow the gap.
However, Greece responded strongly, closing the first quarter with a 12-2 run, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer, to lead 32-14. They maintained control into halftime, leading 47-33 despite Doncic’s efforts to rally Slovenia with three-pointers and aggressive play. In the second half, Greece extended their lead with efficient scoring and solid defense, limiting Slovenia’s chances to mount a comeback.
A 16-3 run by Greece in the final period further widened the gap, ultimately leading to a decisive victory. Despite Doncic’s impressive performance with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Slovenia couldn’t overcome Greece’s defensive pressure and scoring prowess, ending their bid for an Olympic spot.
Doncic now turns his focus to the upcoming NBA season after Slovenia’s elimination.
