By Aris Barkas / barkas@eurohoops.net
PARIS, France – For the first 10 minutes Greece has imposed their will on the court and for a total of 28 minutes, the game was tied.
But Germany saved the best for last, creating a distance and getting the quarterfinal win in the Paris Olympics. Gordon Herbert’s team won 76-63, avoiding Greek revenge two years after EuroBasket 2022.
Franz Wagner with 18 points was the top scorer of the winning side, while Dennis Schroder with 11 points, 8 assists, and just one turnover made things happen for the winners.
Isaac Bonga was also huge on both ends of the floor for the German national team. He finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and a team-high +22 in +/-.
Giannis Antetokounmpo with 22 points was the leading scorer of Greece once again, followed by Thomas Walkup with 12. Captain Kostas Papanikolaou had 10 points and 8 rebounds.
A first-half defensive battle
Greece started the game with a 10-2 run forcing Germany to take a time-out with less than four minutes played.
With the German offense out of synch, the lead jumped to 12 points (16-4) after a thunderous dunk by Giannis, and the first quarter ended with Greece up by 10 (21-11).
Germany started the second quarter with a quick 5-0 spurt (21-16) and pushed to make it a one-point game (33-32) and tied it all at 36, which was the halftime time score.
Freight train is incoming! 🚝#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/kVKYKn3frt
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 6, 2024
Germany getting things done
Dennis Schroder with a contested three gave Germany the lead (39-36) for the first time with the first basket of the second half. Still, Greece with two threes, by Walkup and Papanikolaou got the lead back (44-41).
A big three by Franz Wagner put Germany up (50-47), only for Greece to reply with Giannis and tie the score at 50. However, at the end of the period, the score was 59-52 after a crucial buzzer-beating three by Bonga with Germany having their biggest lead of the game yet.
The run continued with Franz Wagner scoring for an 11-2 partial score (61-52) and Greece was on the ropes. To be exact with Giannis reacting, the lead was trimmed to give (61-56) but that was the best they could do until the end.
Franz Wagner didn’t stop and scored in traffic for the 10-point lead at 67-57, only to be followed by a huge three-pointer by Dennis Schroder.
The German flag-bearer called game by creating again the 15-point gap at 72-59. Germany booked the ticket for the Semi-Finals in front of the legendary Dirk Nowitzki.
German legend Dirk Nowitzki is in attendance for Germany 🇩🇪 v Greece 🇬🇷 game in #Paris2024 🤩#Basketball pic.twitter.com/GCLidMTfTW
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 6, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball