RIGA, Latvia — Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 29 points and sealed the game from the line as Greece defeated Lithuania 87-76 on Tuesday, booking a EuroBasket semifinal meeting with Turkey.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward knocked down four free throws in the final 47 seconds, restoring a double-digit cushion after Lithuania had trimmed a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to five. His younger brother, 27-year-old Olympiakos center Kostas Antetokounmpo, blocked four shots — all before halftime — and Vasileios Toliopoulos added 17 points.
Two-time champion Greece (1987, 2005) will now face undefeated Turkey, which beat Poland 91-77 earlier in the day.
Valanciunas leads Lithuania
Jonas Valanciunas kept Lithuania in contention with 24 points and 15 rebounds, but the New Orleans Pelicans center could not offset Greece’s balanced effort.
Sengun’s triple-double lifts Turkey
Houston Rockets forward Alperen Sengun recorded 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Turkey remained perfect. Sengun dazzled the crowd — and his mother in attendance — with a full-court one-handed pass to Sehmus Hazer late in the second quarter, then fed Hazer again with a spinning no-look assist in the third before capping his performance with a one-handed reverse dunk.
Turkey led 46-32 at halftime, withstanding a late push that saw Poland close to within eight with three minutes left. Hazer’s corner three stopped the rally. Mateusz Ponitka and Jordan Loyd paced Poland with 19 points apiece.
Quarterfinals continue Wednesday
Finland meets Georgia, while reigning World Cup champion Germany faces Slovenia in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Georgia is appearing in its first EuroBasket quarterfinal after eliminating Olympic silver medalist France and defeating defending champion Spain in group play. Finland ousted Nikola Jokić’s Serbia and features Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen alongside 18-year-old prospect Miikka Muurinen.
Germany lifted the trophy on home soil in 1993; Slovenia claimed its lone title in 2017. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, coming off a 42-point outing against Italy, is seeking his fifth 30-point game of the tournament. Dončić and Sengun each own a triple-double and could collide for gold in Sunday’s final.
Source: ESPN
