By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The highly anticipated FIBA clash between the last back-to-back NBA MVPs Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers was everything fans waited for and more. In the end, it was the Joker who got the win by putting up 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists to lead Serbia past Greece 100 – 94 in overtime.
In his first official game with the Greek national team since the 2019 World Cup, Giannis had a monster performance and delivered an international career-high 40 points, plus eight rebounds and five assists. He and Jokic battled in a spectacular show and it was the latter who celebrated in the end.
After Greece erased an eight-point deficit over the last two minutes of regulation and forced the extra period with a triple by Tyler Dorsey, Jokic took over completely. The Denver Nuggets star pulled off one individual play after the other and scored six straight points that put Serbia up 97 – 92 with 1:18 to play. Antetokounmpo and Dorsey tried to get Greece closer but their shots from beyond the arc were off target.
Vladimir Lucic drained a free throw for the 98 – 92 while the visiting side didn’t manage to get at a shooting distance in the last seconds. He finished with 15 points while Ognjen Jaramaz scored 14 to emerge as a hidden ace for Serbia. Nikola Milutinov had 12 points.
Dorsey dropped 16 points and Thanasis Antetokounmpo posted 12 points plus five boards and a major defensive contribution for Greece.
While Serbia got a crucial victory to improve to 2-3 in Group I, the team and fans that packed Stark Arena in Belgrade saw star guard Vasilije Micic exiting the game in the first half with what appeared to be a bad ankle injury. There’s still no update regarding his status and while the EuroBasket tips off in a week (1/9).
Greece big man Kostas Antetokounmpo also left the match in the first half with some irritation in his right knee patellar ligament.
The 19,150 fans in Belgrade Arena set a new attendance record for FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers.