July 7th, in the Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece, Greece defeated Slovenia 96-68 in the elimination round.
Giannis Antetokounmpo started strong, slamming home a powerful two-handed dunk that showcased his determination to win. Greece dominated from the start, quickly pulling away with a comfortable lead. Luka Dončić, however, struggled, even missing two free throws. He later regained some rhythm from beyond the arc, but his teammates were cold, unable to provide him with adequate support. As a result, Slovenia couldn’t mount a comeback and eventually succumbed early.
With this loss, Slovenia’s Olympic dreams were dashed, and Dončić was eliminated by Giannis. Despite being double-teamed throughout the game, Dončić managed to score, but his teammates’ shooting woes proved insurmountable. In 34 minutes of play, Dončić shot 7-of-14 overall, 5-of-9 from three-point range, finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists – all team-highs – but also committing an alarming 10 turnovers.
On the other hand, Giannis didn’t have a dominant performance, logging only 20 minutes, going 6-of-12 for 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. His contribution helped Greece advance to the final, putting them one step closer to securing an Olympic berth.