MILAN (AP) — The stars were on fire at EuroBasket on Tuesday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 41 points Greece plays 27 minutes, Luka Doncic scores 36 for Slovenia, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scores for Serbia 29 points – All three of the world’s best players have led their teams to a big win in the group stage of the European Championships.
With one group game left each, then head to Berlin to wait, as Greece, Slovenia and Serbia all secure places in the 16-team knockout round that begins Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has the highest total in a EuroBasket game since Dirk Nowitzki scored 43 for Germany in 2001. When he heard the data, all Antetokounmpo did was nod.
“I try not to judge my performance,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just try to go out there and have as much fun as possible, focus as much as I can on the things I can control, bring as much energy as possible. … But I’ll say this: I think it’s me It was a very, very exciting year to be able to play with my teammates on the court.”
As Antetokounmpo did it, and Doncic also misrepresented the credit after the game. After being told Germany’s post-match reaction was “It happened with Luka Doncic”, Doncic replied “it happened with Slovenia”.
“The whole team is ready,” Doncic said. “Everyone who plays is fighting, whether they play 1 minute or 30 minutes. I’m really proud of this team.”
Doncic was asked after the game Whether he or Giannis Antetokounmpo is more capable of breaking the EuroBasket single-game scoring record.
Doncic answered without hesitation: He chose Brother Antetokounmpo.
“I would bet on Giannis,” Doncic said. “Why? Because he’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Group C
Greece 99, Ukraine 79
In Milan, Giannis Antetokounmpo simply beat Ukraine and ensured Greece would top the group stage.
Antetokounmpo — off Monday — had him lead Greece 4-0 with 41 points and nine rebounds in just 27 minutes.
He was 13 of 18 from the field and 15 of 18 from the free throw line.
“It’s very easy to get the team ready because it’s absolutely clear what Greece will do when Giannis is there,” Ukraine coach Ainas Bagatskis said . “They play very aggressively. If you don’t fight them with the same aggressiveness, or even more aggressiveness, then you have a big problem.”
Nick Carra Sith and Tyler Dorsey each had 13 points in Greece.
Issuf Sanon and Svi Mykhailiuk each had 16 points for Ukraine (3-1), while Alex Len and Illya Sydorov each had 10 points. Ukraine led by seven at the half, and Greece won the third quarter 32-11.
Estonia 94, Great Britain 62
Henri Drell scored 20, Siim-Sander Vene scored 18 , Estonia had no trouble on their way to their first victory of the tournament.
Maik-Kalev Kotsar scores 15, Kristjan Kitsing adds 14, Janari Joesaar for Estonia (1-3) Completed with 11 points.
Myles Hesson scored 14 for Great Britain (0-4), Carl Whitty and Patrick Whelan each had 12.
Italy 81, Croatia 76
Simone Fontecchio and Nicolo Melli lead Italy (2-2) with 19 points each.
Bojan Bogdanovic leads Croatia (2-2) with 27 points, while Ivica Zubac adds 13, Dario Saric Get 10 points.
Both teams will advance to the knockout rounds.
Group B
Slovenia 88, Germany 80
Doncic scored 36 points on 14-of-25 shooting in Cologne, Germany. He also had 10 rebounds for Slovenia (3-1).
Goran Dragic had 18 points and Mike Toby had 10 for Slovenia.
“We showed our strength,” Dragic said.
Dennis Schroeder had 19 points, Andreas Obst had 14, and Mahodo Rowe added 13 for Germany (3-1) .
Lithuania 87, Hungary 64
Lithuanian basketball is known for many things, including passionate fans.
They go everywhere cheering for their national team. On Tuesday, they even cheered for France – and for good reason.
Lithuania’s overtake of Hungary, combined with France’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, means the last qualifying spot for Group B remains unclaimed. Lithuania will decide against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, with the winner heading to Berlin for the round of 16, with the loser eliminated at home.
“The Lithuanian fans are the best,” said French defender Evan Fournier.
If France lose on Tuesday, Lithuania will be eliminated. Instead, those Lithuanian fans serenaded the French with “Thank you!” Keep their national team hopes alive.
“It feels great,” said Lithuanian forward Domatas Sabonis. “They play every championship game to support us. It’s a shame we can’t give them a win over the weekend, but we’re happy to give them a win today and our goal is to give them another win tomorrow.”
Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Sabonis added 19 for Lithuania (1-3).
Marius Grigonis scored 15 while Rokas Jokubaitis added 10 for Lithuania. Zoltan Perl had 16 points for Hungary (0-4), while David Vojvoda and Rosco Allen finished with 10 each.
France 81, Bosnia and Herzegovina 68
Thomas Heurtel with 5:49 left A three-pointer kept France in the lead and ended the game 22-7 for the winner, who had secured a spot in 16 rounds.
Guerschon Yabusele scored 15 points for France (3-1), while Heurtel and Fournier each had 14 points and Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Jusuf Nurkic, Miralem Halilovic and Dzanan Musa all contributed 14 for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-2) while John Roberson scored 13 and Edin Edin Atic had 10 points.
Group A
Turkey 78, Belgium 63
In Tbilisi, Georgia, Alperen Sengun scored 24 points and Furkan Korkmaz scored 16 as Turkey (3-1) remained tied at the top of Group A.
Ercan Osmani added 12 points for Turkey.
Haris Bratanovic scored 15 for Belgium (2-2) and Hans Vanwijn had 11.
S PAIN 82, MONTENEGRO 65
Spain (3-1) locked in round of 16 Dario Brizuela leads with 18 points.
Willy Hernangomez scored 14 for Spain, while Jaime Pradilla and Lorenzo Brown added 12 each.
Vladimir Mihailovic scored 18 points for Montenegro (2-2), Montenegro had 11 points from Marko Simonovic and 10 from Kendrick Perry.
Bulgaria 92, Georgia 80
Dee Bost had 33 points and 12 assists, Aleksandar Vezenkov had With 28 points and 14 rebounds, Bulgaria held onto hope.
Pavlin Ivanov scored 17 for Bulgaria (1-3).
Goga Bitadze scored 21 for Georgia (1-3), while Thaddus McFadden had 19, Alexander Mamukelashvili had 13, and Giorgi Shermadini and Duda Sanadze had 10 each.
Group D
Serbia 89, Israel 78
In Prague, Jokic was 11 for 13 and also grabbed 11 rebounds for Serbia (4-0), while Vasilije Micic added 19.
Nicola Kalinic and Ognjen Jaramaz each scored 10 for Serbia.
Yam Madar scored 20 for Israel (2-2), while Deni Avdija scored 14 and Roman Sorkin scored 11.
Poland 75, Netherlands 69
Poland trailed by 13 points in the third quarter and ended up 39- 20 End the game in preparation for the knockout stage.
Michal Sokolowski scores 24 for Poland (3-1), including 16 for Aleksander Balcerowski , Jakub Garbacz had 10 points.
Charlon Kloof led the Netherlands (0-4) with 26 points and Yannick Franke had 13.
Finland 98, Czech Republic 88
Lauri Markkanen with 34 points and 10 Rebounding continued his strong game as Finland secured a spot in the round of 16.
Sassou Salin had 23 points, Petteri Koponen had 14 for Finland and Elias Valtonen had 11.
Vojtech Hruban had 22 for the Czech Republic, Jan Vesely had 15 and Patrik Auda and Jaromir Bohacik had 13. The Czechs face Israel on Thursday and, according to FIBA, they could advance to the knockout stages with a win.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 41 for Greece in star-studded EuroBasket Tuesday, originally appeared on NBCSports.com
