Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been on a tear for Greece throughout the first two games of the Olympics, putting together two incredibly strong performances.
Yet, the team has not managed to take advantage and win either of those matchups. First, they lost a close matchup to Canada, with RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proving to be just too much for Greece. Next, their comeback attempt against Spain came up just short on Tuesday, sending the team to the brink of elimination.
Greece's loss to Spain feels like a typical Bucks' loss
In recent memory, when the Milwaukee Bucks lose, there are typically two significant factors at play.
First, the opposing team is lights out from 3-point land. Check. Spain was scorching hot in this one, shooting 15-of-31 (48.4 percent) from behind the arc. Second, Giannis Antetokounmpo's teammates typically struggle to step up. Check. Everyone outside of Giannis on Greece shot just 19-of-53 (35.9 percent) from the field. It felt like the 2022 playoff series against the Boston Celtics all over again.
Despite both of these things weighing Greece down like an anvil, Giannis Antetokounmpo did what he could to will the team to victory, tallying 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals. He also had the highlight of the game with a poster dunk over Memphis Grizzlies big man Santi Aldama. Still, despite his heroics, there was no overcoming Spain's hot shooting and Greece's struggles.
Despite the poster, Aldama got the last laugh, totaling 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks as he led Spain to a clutch 84-77 victory.
Greece is now on the brink of elimination, and their only hope of advancing is beating Australia in their next matchup while getting some help from others in the point differential category. Everyone knew it would be a tough road for Greece, and it's about to be do-or-die time early on for them.
Two games in, Antetokounmpo has averaged 30.5 points, eight rebounds and two steals while hitting an efficient 67.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Anyone watching can tell how much this means to him as he represents his country.
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