In the concluding match of the Acropolis Tournament on Sunday evening, the Greek national team conceded a 80-85 overtime defeat to Serbia at the sold-out OAKA Indoor Hall.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was the leading Greek scorer with 20 points. His brother Thanasis followed with 17 points as he converted five out of nine three-point attempts, Nick Calathes (15 points) and Ioannis Bourousis (10 points).
The game was also marred by a serious injury suffered by Giannis Athinaiou in the second quarter. The 31-year-old had only been on the court for 18 seconds when he suffering a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury in the friendly match. Athinaiou will miss the World Cup and the start of the 2019/2020 season.
The Greek national team are set to fly to China for the 2019 FIBA World Cup on Wednesday.
THE MATCH
The evenly-matched teams kept the game close in the first period, with Greece edging it 19-17.
It was much the same in the second, but the Greeks managed to extend their lead, winning the frame by five points. Athinaiou, a recent Panathinaikos signing, fell to the floor in agony after only playing for 18 seconds and was helped off the court clutching his left knee.
As the game progressed, Serbia gradually became stronger, and Greece had to rely on Thanasis Antetokounmpo draining a late three-pointer to take the match to overtime.
Serbia outscored Greece 13-8 in the extra period to sneak the win at a sold-out OAKA.
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