EuroBasket Quarterfinals: Greece Triumphs Over Lithuania
In an electrifying EuroBasket quarterfinal held in Riga, Latvia on Tuesday, Greece powered past Lithuania with a score of 87-76, propelling them into the semifinals. Giannis Antetokounmpo shone brightly for Greece, contributing 29 points and showcasing his clutch performance with crucial free throws in the dying moments of the game. His decisive contributions included two critical free throws in the last 19 seconds, which pushed Greece’s lead back to 10 points after Lithuania had narrowed the gap. Additionally, his earlier free throws helped maintain the team’s momentum as they faced a spirited Lithuanian comeback.
Kostas Antetokounmpo, Giannis’s younger brother, played a key defensive role, racking up four blocks entirely in the first half. Meanwhile, Vasileios Toliopoulos supported the team’s offensive efforts with 17 points. The victory marks a significant step for Greece, a nation with a rich basketball heritage, as they attempt to reclaim glory after previously winning the EuroBasket title in 1987 and 2005.
Lithuania’s standout player was Jonas Valanciunas, who collected an impressive 24 points along with 15 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Greece’s second-half lead.
Turkey’s Victory Over Poland
Earlier in the day, Turkey, led by a remarkable triple-double from Alperen Sengun, triumphed over Poland with a score of 91-77. Sengun, who plays for the Houston Rockets, notched 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, including some spectacular passes that had the crowd buzzing, such as a one-handed full-court assist resulting in a dunk from Sehmus Hazer. Turkey maintained control after a strong first half, leading 46-32, and despite Poland closing the gap late, key moments from Hazer ensured Turkey remained dominant.
Poland’s top scorers, Mateusz Ponitka and Jordan Loyd, each contributed 19 points but were unable to shift the momentum enough to threaten Turkey’s lead.
Upcoming Matchups
The EuroBasket quarterfinals continue with matchups scheduled for Wednesday, featuring Finland versus Georgia and defending World Cup champion Germany against Slovenia. Finland recently displayed tremendous skill by eliminating Serbia, while Georgia capitalized on a surprising victory over Olympic silver medalist France. Germany and Slovenia have each previously captured the EuroBasket title, adding layers of intrigue to the upcoming games.
Looking ahead, Luka Dončić, who has consistently performed at a high level including a 42-point game against Italy, aims to maintain his scoring streak, having previously recorded a triple-double in the tournament. There remains the potential for a head-to-head clash between Dončić and Sengun if both teams secure their spots in the finals on Sunday.
