Sweet and sour starts at EuroBasket 2025 for NBA stars Giannis and Doncic

There was a mixed start at EuroBasket 2025 for two of the NBA’s biggest stars this week in the opening games in the group phase.

Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was the star attraction as Greece had to dig deep to beat Italy in their Group C opener eventually running out as 75-66 winners.

Antetokounmpo was the undeniable force for Greece, leading all scorers with a game-high 31 points. He also contributed seven rebounds.

Greece’s victory was built on a solid defensive performance and as Italy fought to stay in the game and even trimmed the lead to six points in the final minutes, they were ultimately unable to overcome Greece’s consistent performance.

Slovenia slump in opener

In front of a partisan home crowd in Katowice, Poland delivered the first bug upset at EuroBasket 2025 as they powered past Slovenia with a 105-95 win.

The Polish team had a phenomenal shooting night, especially from beyond the arc. They shot an impressive 14 of 26 (53.8%) from three-point range, which was a major factor in their victory.

American-born guard Jordan Loyd, recently granted Polish citizenship, had a career-defining game leading Poland with a team-high 32 points, including a blistering 7-of-8 from three-point territory.

Despite the defeat, Slovenia’s superstar Luka Doncic put on a historical individual performance. He finished with a game-high 34 points, along with 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. He also became the first player in EuroBasket history to record a stat line of at least 30 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals.

Slovenia now face France tomorrow and need a win to get their Group D hopes back on track.

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