Greece has clinched the top spot in Group C of the 2022 EuroBasket after defeating Ukraine 99-79 this morning in Milan.
Giannis Antetokounmpo personally delivered a 7-0 start and his absence was notable when Ukraine made their first significant charge taking a 25-23 lead early in the second quarter.
By halftime, Greece was trailing with the scoreline standing at 46-39.
It was here that Greece’s head coach, Dimitrios Itoudis, returned The Greek Freak to the court.
Down 49-43 in the third quarter, Antetokounmpo scored 13 successive points in a burst that turned the game on its head.
Across the entirety of the game, Giannis scored 41 points, the most by a player in a single EuroBasket game since Dirk Nowitzki’s 43 in 2001. When he heard that stat, all he did was nod.
Best player in the world? 🤯
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2022
🇬🇷 Giannis Antetokounmpo drops 41 PTS, the most in a single #EuroBasket game since Dirk’s 43 in 2001.#BringTheNoise pic.twitter.com/Sh2oejDQjJ
Nick Calathes had 13 points and seven assists for Greece, while Tyler Dorsey added another 13 points.
This morning’s comeback, led by the Milwaukee Bucks star, toppled Ukraine’s undefeated status, cementing Greece’s position in the Group C top spot with a chance to end this phase unbeaten by beating Estonia on Friday.
SOURCE: FIBA Basketball
