It’s no secret two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is the primary engine to Greece’s gold medal bid in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, a recent illness kept the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star out of action recently in a tune-up game against Puerto Rico.
Greece made an impressive comeback against Puerto Rico in their pre-Olympic friendly match, despite missing several key players. Playing without the NBA All-Star, Nick Calathes, Giannis Larentzakis, and Kostas Antetokounmpo, Greece rallied in the fourth quarter to clinch a narrow 67-65 victory.
Puerto Rico led for most of the game, at one point holding a 12-point advantage in the second quarter. They maintained a 58-48 lead after three quarters, but Greece scored the first eight points of the final frame to cut the deficit. The game came down to the wire, with Greece taking a 66-65 lead on a driving layup by Kostas Papanikolaou with 32 seconds remaining. Puerto Rico had a chance to retake the lead, but missed a last-second shot, and Greece secured the comeback win.
Dinos Mitoglou was the standout performer for Greece, scoring 18 points with eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Georgios Papagiannis also contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while Papanikolaou added 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The game highlighted Greece’s depth and resilience, as they were able to overcome the absence of their top players to defeat a tough Puerto Rico team.
The Reason Why Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Missed Greece’s Olympic Tune-Up Against Puerto Rico
After willing the Greek national team to the Olympics, Antetokounmpo was noticeably missing from their match against Puerto Rico. According to an article posted on Basketnews, the Milwaukee forward was absent from the game due to a virus.
“After securing first place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Piraeus, Greece will play their first friendly game against Puerto Rico ahead of the Paris Olympic Games. However, Greece’s preparations face some challenges with key players.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is out due to a virus that kept him from Monday’s training, according to SPORT 24. Additionally, Nick Calathes and Giannoulis Larentzakis are in the final stages of recovery from injuries sustained during the Olympic Qualifiers. Meanwhile, Kostas Antetokounmpo is still receiving treatment for a knee injury”
At this point in time, it isn’t known yet what the severity of the illness is or how long will it take for him to recover. Even if that’s the case, Greece still proved to be the better team in their match against Puerto Rico.
For sure, the Greek Freak will be up and running once the Olympics formally starts, especially since Antetokounmpo is his country’s primary flag bearer. By that time, the the two-time MVP is ready to go and prove his worth on the global stage.
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