With Stellar Giannis, Greece Advances to the Quarterfinals, 84-79 over Israel

The Men’s National Team punched its ticket to the EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals after an 84-79 victory over Israel at Arena Riga.

Greece controlled the game and responded well in the third quarter when Israel attempted a comeback. Now, the team turns its attention to the big quarterfinal clash against Lithuania (9/9), aiming to reach the medal rounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo carried Greece against Israel, despite being saddled with a third foul midway through the third quarter. Sloukas and record-man Papanikolaou also played a huge part, along with Samontourov and Kalaitzakis, who contributed when on the floor. Greece ultimately secured the win despite shooting just 4/25 from beyond the arc.

Greece–Israel: The Game

The National Team made a dream start in every aspect, playing ferocious defense. Israel tried to answer through Ginat and by targeting Mitoglou, while Segev played Giannis Antetokounmpo as physically as possible in an effort to contain him. Still, Greece looked solid, focused, and disciplined, with Giannis scoring 11 points in less than seven minutes to lead Greece to a 21-12 advantage.

Despite struggling from long range, Greece found points in transition. Closing the first quarter up 28-22 at Arena Riga on 11/12 two-pointers was an excellent return, even though the three-point shot (1/5) wasn’t falling. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis also provided valuable minutes for Vassilis Spanoulis’ team, which dominated early, dishing six assists to just two turnovers in the opening period.

Greece continued to score on the break, with Giannis remaining unstoppable and keeping the tempo high. Just before halftime, Sloukas connected from deep to push the margin into double digits (50-39, 18’). Greece went into the locker room leading 50-41.

The “blue-and-white” dominated the first half, leaving Israel with little room to challenge. Offensively, Greece relied heavily on its two-point game (20/26 overall, with Giannis at 10/11), while the three-point shot remained problematic (2/11). Even so, Greece showed clear superiority on the glass (20-14), including nine offensive boards, playing with seriousness and improved defensive communication. Meanwhile, Avdija was quiet, finishing the half with 9 points on 2/5 shooting.

Israel tried to respond, cutting it to 56-53 through Ginat. Giannis picked up his third foul at the 24-minute mark but stayed in the game. The Israelis kept pressing, gaining confidence, and Ginat narrowed it to 60-58 from the line, as Greece showed signs of nerves, unable to pull away in a game it seemed to control. A three-pointer by Samontourov gave Greece breathing room (66-58), and the team closed the third quarter ahead 67-59, maintaining a slim lead.

In the final stretch, Greece played with more freedom, rebuilding a double-digit cushion (77-67). Alexandros Samontourov’s name echoed among the Greek fans in the stands, and Greece closed out the win, 84-79.

Quarter scores: 28-22, 50-41, 67-59, 84-79.

End of the game
Greece defeats Israel 84-79 and will face Lithuania in the EuroBasket quarterfinals.

07/09/2025 23:46
Block by Giannis

07/09/2025 23:43
Israel has possession

07/09/2025 23:43
Greece challenges for possession with 28’’ left

07/09/2025 23:41
34.4 seconds remain in the game

07/09/2025 23:41
82-74
Follow-up by Giannis

07/09/2025 23:38
1:14 left in the game

07/09/2025 23:37
80-74
Both free throws good

07/09/2025 23:35
Free throws for Madar

07/09/2025 23:34
80-72
Beautiful basket by Timor

07/09/2025 23:33
80-70
Papanikolaou hits a three

07/09/2025 23:33
77-70
Sorkin 1/2 from the line

07/09/2025 23:32
Sorkin at the line

07/09/2025 23:30
2:32 left in the game

07/09/2025 23:29
77-69
Nice layup by Madar

07/09/2025 23:28
77-67
Giannis dunks with ease

07/09/2025 23:27
75-67
2/2 free throws

07/09/2025 23:27
Avdija at the line

07/09/2025 23:26
75-65
Avdija cuts the lead to 10

07/09/2025 23:24
75-62
Fantastic follow-up by Samonturov

07/09/2025 23:22
73-62
Ginat sinks a three

07/09/2025 23:21
73-59
Giannis with the slam

07/09/2025 23:19
71-59
Giannis with a smooth finish at the rim

07/09/2025 23:18
69-59
Sloukas with a brilliant drive

07/09/2025 23:15
Fourth quarter begins

07/09/2025 23:14
End of the third quarter, 67-59

07/09/2025 23:12
Ball to Greece

07/09/2025 23:11
11 seconds left in the third quarter

07/09/2025 23:11
67-59
1/2 free throws

07/09/2025 23:09
Foul, free throws for Kostas

07/09/2025 23:08
66-59
1/2 from the line

07/09/2025 23:08
Avdija at the line

07/09/2025 23:07
66-58
Samonturov hits a three

07/09/2025 23:07
63-58
Free throw is good

07/09/2025 23:06
62-58
And-one for Sloukas

07/09/2025 23:05
60-58
1/2 from the line

07/09/2025 23:04
Two free throws for Ginat

07/09/2025 23:04
Missed free throw

07/09/2025 23:02
60-57
And-one for Sorkin

07/09/2025 23:02
60-55
Basket by Ginat

07/09/2025 23:01
60-53
Samonturov scores inside

07/09/2025 22:58
58-53
Giannis dunks

07/09/2025 22:57
56-53

56-51
Toliopoulos finishes smartly

07/09/2025 22:55
54-51
Giannis for two, Avdija answers with a three

07/09/2025 22:54
52-48
Carrington hits another three

07/09/2025 22:54
52-45
Sorkin with a three-pointer

07/09/2025 22:53
52-42
1/2 from the line

07/09/2025 22:53
Free throws for Madar

07/09/2025 22:52
52-41
Giannis picks up right where he left off

07/09/2025 22:52
Start of the third quarter

07/09/2025 22:51
“Unstoppable” Giannis

07/09/2025 22:42

07/09/2025 22:37
The Giannis show

07/09/2025 22:37
Halftime: Greece leads 50-41

07/09/2025 22:36
Giannis back on the court for the final minute of the half

07/09/2025 22:34

07/09/2025 22:31
50-41
Levi with a layup in transition

07/09/2025 22:30
50-39
+11 after a Sloukas three

07/09/2025 22:30
47-39
Dorsey scores off the glass from close range

07/09/2025 22:29
45-39
2/2 from the line and Spanoulis calls timeout

07/09/2025 22:27
Avdija to the line

07/09/2025 22:26
45-37
Kostas with an adventurous finish

07/09/2025 22:26
3:46 left in the half

07/09/2025 22:24
43-37
Mitoglou scores off the glass inside

07/09/2025 22:24
41-37
Avdija sinks a three

07/09/2025 22:23
41-34
Giannis unstoppable

07/09/2025 22:22
39-34
Madar goes 2/2 from the line

07/09/2025 22:22
5 minutes left in the half

07/09/2025 22:21
39-32
Giannis drives to the basket again

07/09/2025 22:21
37-32
Giannis responds

07/09/2025 22:20
35-32
Sorkin with a three

07/09/2025 22:20
35-29
Fantastic fast break: Kalaitzakis to Sloukas

07/09/2025 22:18
33-29
Sorkin mid-range jumper

07/09/2025 22:17
33-27
Spectacular dunk by Giannis

07/09/2025 22:17
The Giannis show

8 seconds of a full-court offense couldn’t get executed any better 🇬🇷
#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/1P6ZzyHkdI
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025

07/09/2025 22:16
Offensive struggles for Greece in the second quarter

07/09/2025 22:15
31-27
2/2 from the line

07/09/2025 22:13
Sorkin to the line after a foul by Kostas Antetokounmpo

07/09/2025 22:13
31-25
1/2 from the stripe

07/09/2025 22:12
Foul drawn by Toliopoulos, free throws coming

07/09/2025 22:12
30-25
Carrington with a three-pointer

07/09/2025 22:11
Missed free throw

07/09/2025 22:11
30-22
And-one play by Dinos Mitoglou

07/09/2025 22:10
28-22
Giannis with a dunk to end the first quarter

07/09/2025 22:08
26-22
2/2 free throws

07/09/2025 22:07
Avdija at the line now

07/09/2025 22:07
26-20
Kalaitzakis with the drive

07/09/2025 22:06
24-20
Zussman scores inside

07/09/2025 22:06
24-18
1/2 from the line

07/09/2025 22:05
Free throws for Kostas Antetokounmpo

07/09/2025 22:05
23-18
1/2

07/09/2025 22:04
1:19 left, Ginat to the line

07/09/2025 22:03
23-17
Toliopoulos hits a mid-range jumper

07/09/2025 22:03
21-17
Carrington with a three

07/09/2025 22:02
21-14
Nice drive by Avdija

07/09/2025 22:00
Free throw good

07/09/2025 21:59
20-12
Another and-one for Giannis

07/09/2025 21:58
3:44 left in the first quarter

07/09/2025 21:58
18-12
Giannis slams it home on the fast break, Israel timeout

07/09/2025 21:56
16-12
Dorsey and Sorkin score from close range

07/09/2025 21:56
14-10
Ginat responds

07/09/2025 21:55
14-8
Papanikolaou with a putback

07/09/2025 21:55
12-8
Ginat scores off the glass

07/09/2025 21:54
12-6
Giannis with an and-one in transition

07/09/2025 21:53
10-6
Nice hook shot by Ginat

07/09/2025 21:52
10-4
Papanikolaou hits a three

07/09/2025 21:51
7-4
Madar with a nice effort

07/09/2025 21:51
7-2
Kostas goes 1/2 at the line

07/09/2025 21:50
Sloukas to the line after Madar foul

07/09/2025 21:50
6-2
Giannis spin move and a bucket

07/09/2025 21:48
4-2
Giannis mid-range jumper

07/09/2025 21:47
2-2
Sloukas hits a mid-range shot, Madar answers

07/09/2025 21:47
All set for tip-off

07/09/2025 21:42
Starting five tonight: Mitoglou, Sloukas, Dorsey, Papanikolaou, Giannis