Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece on brink of elimination after losing to Spain

Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greek National Team are in serious trouble after losing their first two games of the tournament. Spain took down the Greeks 82-77 and now they have to hope for a favorable result in the other game of this group later on today.

Aldama, Spain top Greeks

After both teams lost their opening matches in what has been called the Group of Death, Greece and Spain knew how much was on the line from the Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Greece was dominated by a better, deeper Canada team while Spain got handled by a big, physical Australia in the first round of games. That meant the match up in the second round of games was essentially a must win for each team.

Greece hadn’t made an appearance in the men’s basketball tournament since the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and now they are staring down the barrel of an early exit which would be disastrous for a basketball crazed country. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the top players in the world, but even the former Finals MVP’s 27 point 11 rebound performance wasn’t enough to push the Greeks past Spain.

Now the Greeks will have to hope that Canada can beat Australia later today. That will keep their Olympic dream alive at least for another game, but with two losses in their first two games their backs are against the wall.

Game recap

The Milwaukee Bucks’ star came out and threw his big body around on the block, and created mismatch problems for the Spaniards in the first quarter. He had 9 points and a handful of rebounds in the opening 10 minutes, but coach Sergio Scariolo adjusted the defensive game plan assuring the Greeks and Giannis wouldn’t be able to get out and run the break while keeping two or three bodies on Antetokounmpo in the half court.

Spain pulled away in the second quarter thanks to a brilliant performances from Santi Aldama and Sergio Llull. The Memphis Grizzly dominated on both ends, scoring 19 points, and gracing 11 rebounds to go along with his three blocks while Llull had a couple of “mandarina” three pointers as the Spaniards stretched their lead to 14 going into halftime.

The Greeks would claw back into the game on the shoulders of their star. Giannis had 18 of the 42 points that Greece scored in the second half, but they would never take the lead back from Spain. Giannis had a chance to tie the game up with under a minute to go in the 4th quarter, but he missed a three from the top of the key and the Spaniards were able to fend off the comeback.

After the win, Spain has a chance to end group stages at the top of the table, or they could even finish last and be eliminated. Greece is going to need Canada to beat Australia before they start thinking about their final game against Australia on Friday. Canada and Australia are set to tip off at 7:30 a.m. ET and that could determine the fate of Giannis and Greece.