Greece alive for Paris Olympics basketball knockout round

Giannis Antetokounmpo, of Greece, celebrates after a basket against Australia in a men’s basketball game at the Paris Olympics 2024, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SCHEDULE: Men’s basketball at Paris Olympics 2024

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and seven rebounds as Greece kept alive its hopes of advancing to next week’s Paris Olympics men’s basketball knockout round.

Thomas Walkup added 18 points for Greece. Jock Landale led Australia with 17 points.

“We didn’t want to leave this tournament without getting a win,” Antetokounmpo said. “We felt like we had a very good team to not get the win. And we competed. We fight for all three games. And I think this has been a game that we had to fight for until the end.”

READ: Paris Olympics: Spain beats Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece

The top two teams in each of the three groups automatically qualify for the quarterfinals. The final two spots in the next round go to the best third-place teams in group play.

Greece entered the day 0-2 in Group A play, needing to beat the Boomers by 10 or more points and for Canada to defeat Spain to ensure advancement to next week’s knockout stage in Paris.

Greece’s six-point victory and Canada’s win over Spain gave Greece a third-place group finish, though advancing isn’t guaranteed. Canada and Australia are moving on from Group A, along with France, Germany and Brazil in Group B and the U.S. in Group C. The final two spots will be determined by what happens Saturday in the Group C matchup between Serbia and South Sudan.

Australia closed to 71-69 with less than three minutes remaining on a pull-up jumper by Patty Mills.

Mills drew an offensive foul on Antetokounmpo, but Australia turned it over on its next possession.

Antetokounmpo found Vasilis Toliopoulos, who knocked down a 3-pointer to put Greece back up by five. The lead grew to 77-70 on a 3 by Walkup with 1:04 left.

Dyson Daniels of Australia had to go to the locker room for treatment in the second quarter after an awkward slip on the court. But he was able to return late in the period.