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An Olympics berth has eluded Giannis Antetokounmpo up to now throughout his basketball profession. He’s one victory away from altering that.
Thomas Walkup had 19 factors, Antetokounmpo added 13 factors in 21 minutes, and Greece moved one victory from the Paris Video games, eliminating Luka Doncic and Slovenia 96-68 on Saturday from the semifinals of the Olympic qualifying event.
“Since coach [Vassilis] Spanoulis took this complete deal over, it has been one purpose and that is to get to the Olympics,” Walkup stated. “We’re one sport away from it. We’ve got to remain humble and centered.”
Doncic completed with 21 factors within the sport in Piraeus, Greece, which marked first time the 2 NBA megastars confronted one another whereas representing their senior nationwide groups.
“They performed means higher than us. They have been far more aggressive,” Doncic stated. “I believe they’ve an incredible group. Clearly, they’ve Giannis. However different items are essential for them too. And so they’re very well-coached. … They outplayed us as we speak.”
The matchup was one in all eight semifinals going down to find out the final 4 berths within the males’s basketball area for the Paris Video games.
Vasileios Toliopoulos added 14 factors for Greece, which is able to meet the winner of the Dominican Republic and Croatia on Sunday within the ultimate of the Greece event, with the Paris Olympics berth going to the winner.
Different semifinal video games are going down Saturday at tournaments in Spain, Latvia and Puerto Rico.
Doncic, who performed by way of accidents within the NBA Finals for the Dallas Mavericks of their five-game loss to the Boston Celtics, averaged 31 factors in Slovenia’s first two qualifying video games. However he got here out flat Saturday towards Greece’s massive entrance line.
Slovenia was placed on its heels early, as Greece scored the sport’s first 13 factors and took a 32-14 lead on the finish of the primary quarter.
Greece’s benefit grew as excessive as 23 factors within the second quarter earlier than Slovenia used a late flurry to chop it to 47-33 on the half.
Greece got here out quick once more within the third, utilizing a 11-3 run to get a long way, and carried a 16-point edge into the fourth quarter.
Slovenia shot 43% (23-of-54) from the sector. That in comparison with 54% (38-of-70) for Greece, which additionally held a 38-25 rebounding edge.
Brazil 71, Philippines 60
In Riga, Latvia, Bruno Caboclo had 15 factors and 11 rebounds as Brazil defeated the Philippines 71-60 to advance to the finals of that event.
Marcelinho Huertas added 13 factors to assist Brazil hold alive hopes of taking part in in its first Olympics since 2016.
The Brazilians will meet the winner of Cameroon and Latvia on Sunday within the finals of that event.
Justin Brownlee completed with 15 factors and eight rebounds to steer the Philippines, which shot 38% from the sector (24 of 64) and had 15 turnovers.
The Philippines led 33-27 at halftime earlier than Brazil opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run. It was a part of a 24-6 quarter for Brazil, which took a 51-39 lead into the fourth.
It was extra the identical within the ultimate interval. The Philippines bought as shut as 53-46 earlier than Brazil responded with an 8-0 run to assist put the sport away.
Bahamas 89, Lebanon 72
In Valencia, Spain, Deandre Ayton had 24 factors and 15 rebounds to steer the Bahamas previous Lebanon 89-72.
Buddy Hield chipped in 19 factors and 10 assists to assist the Bahamas transfer inside a win of constructing its first Olympics area. It is going to meet the winner of Finland and Spain in Sunday’s ultimate.
The Bahamas led by as many as 20 within the first half.
Sergio El Darwich led Lebanon with 22 factors.
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