<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/eurobasket-news-giannis-antetokounmpos-passing-prowess-criticism-alperen-sengun');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giannis Antetokounmpo’s passing prowess draws criticism from Alperen Sengun');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Rockets-All-Star-Alperen-Sengun-Bucks-Giannis-Antetokounmpo.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giannis Antetokounmpo’s passing prowess draws criticism from Alperen Sengun</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-13T09:45:28-07:00">September 13th, 9:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-13T09:45:28-07:00">September 13th, 9:45am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Houston Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun and the Turkey men’s national basketball team eliminated Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece 94-68 in EuroBasket. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-alperen-sengun-eurobasket-record-quarterfinals-win-poland">Sengun led Turkey to victory against Poland</a> in the quarterfinals, he revealed what it took to bring down Antetokounmpo and the Greeks.</p><p>Sengun says Turkey’s Ercan Osmani did a superb job of staying in front of Antetokoumpo <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketNews_com/status/1966601472621040093" rel="noopener">while help defense</a> forced Giannis to pass the ball, which isn’t one of Antetokounmpo’s strong points, Sengun said, after the win, per BasketNews’ X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>“We just put Ercan [Osmani] on him and we helped as much we can,” Alperen said. “Ercan did a great job today. Of course, Giannis is one of the best players in the world. We just tried to help Ercan and think we did a good job. He’s not a great passer. He’s an amazing player but he’s not a great passer. We just tried to help, jump, and close the paint.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Alperen Sengun names Giannis Antetokounmpo's weakness: "He's an amazing player, you know, but he's not a great passer." 🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> </p><p>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/Rbx1N5HRi1">https://t.co/Rbx1N5HRi1</a> <a href="https://t.co/S6q1pKvrcm">pic.twitter.com/S6q1pKvrcm</a></p><p>— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketNews_com/status/1966601472621040093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Antetokounmpo finished with 12 points on 6-of-13 attempts, 12 rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers in the semifinal matchup. Kostas Sloukas added 15 points. Osmani’s 28 points led Turkey. He also finished with six rebounds and two steals, while Sengun added 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block.</p><p>Turkey went on a 12-0 run in the second quarter, taking a 49-31 lead into the second half. For the first time in 24 years, Turkey is headed to the EuroBasket final where they’ll face Germany for the gold medal on Sunday.</p><h2><b>Alperen Sengun’s accomplish feat not seen since 1995</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Rockets-All-Star-Alperen-Sengun.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Rockets All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/eurobasket-news-luka-doncic-alperen-sengun-accomplish-feat-not-since-1995">Alperen Sengun record a triple-double in the quarterfinals</a>. He joined Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, who completed the same feat in an 86-69 win against Belgium during the group stage. Sengun finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against Poland.</p><p>He added three steals while shooting 6-for-14 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free throw line in 30 minutes. Sengun posted an efficiency rating of 33 and a plus/minus of +15, spearheading Turkey’s unbeaten run to 5-0. Still, their biggest challenge awaits in their gold medal matchup against Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, and Germany, who eliminated Finlad to advance to the final round.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s passing prowess draws criticism from Alperen Sengun

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/giannis-antetokounmpo-bold-predictions-greece-eurobasket-lithuania');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Giannis Antetokounmpo bold predictions for Greece’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Lithuania');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/3-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-bold-predictions-for-Greeces-EuroBasket-quarterfinal-vs.-Lithuania.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Giannis Antetokounmpo bold predictions for Greece’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Lithuania</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-08T08:00:50-07:00">September 8th, 8:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-08T08:00:50-07:00">September 8th, 8:00am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When Giannis Antetokounmpo suits up for Greece, EuroBasket shifts. Few <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-greek-coach-giannis-antetokounmpo-officiating-luka-doncic-comparison">players in international basketball</a> command as much gravity as the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, and in four games at this year’s tournament, he has delivered the type of numbers that are less box score entries and more testaments to dominance. Giannis has averaged 30 points per game while shooting a staggering 72.5 percent from the field. He has pulled down nearly 10 rebounds per night, handed out four assists, and been the central figure in every single Greek possession that matters.</p><p>Now Greece faces Lithuania in the quarterfinals, a matchup that carries enormous weight for both nations. Lithuania comes with size, toughness, and a reputation for making life difficult for stars. Their frontcourt depth is legitimate, with physical big men who will try to push Giannis off his spots, clog the paint, and test whether Greece can spread the floor enough to unlock his full powers. But Greece does not enter this game as an underdog; they arrive with the best player in the tournament, a player who can bend the shape of a contest to his will.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-giannis-thunderous-alley-oop-caps-off-37-point-domination-as-greece-advances">Giannis is not merely a scorer</a> in this tournament: he has been a leader, a defensive enforcer, and a source of belief. His teammates, from veterans like Kostas Sloukas to perimeter threats like Tyler Dorsey, have fed off his energy. And in a game that may come down to who imposes their will more, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-why-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-dnp-greece-loss">Giannis is the singular figure who can tip the balance</a>. This quarterfinal is set to test everything about Greece’s identity: their depth, their resilience, their shooting, and above all, their superstar’s capacity for greatness.</p><p>Here are three bold predictions for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s quarterfinal performance against Lithuania, each one a vision of how he could lift Greece not just into the semifinals, but into the heart of EuroBasket history.</p><h2><b>Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 35+ points in statement game</b></h2><p>Giannis has already been scoring at a level few can match, <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/teams/greece/195895-giannis-antetokounmpo" rel="noopener">averaging 30 points</a> in just under 29 minutes of play. What makes that even more extraordinary is the efficiency: 72.5 percent shooting from the field, with almost all of his production coming inside the arc. Against Lithuania, the expectation is that he will face double-teams, collapsing paint defenses, and physical play designed to wear him down. But the truth is that Giannis thrives in chaos. When defenses load up, he doesn’t wilt; he powers through with relentless aggression, drawing fouls, punishing rotations, and scoring in ways that are almost unfair in their inevitability.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 PTS, 10 REB) dominates as Greece 🇬🇷 clinch their spot in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> Quarter-Finals! <a href="https://t.co/69ZZUg7DA0">pic.twitter.com/69ZZUg7DA0</a></p><p>— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1964801569087471953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Lithuania does not have a defender who can contain him one-on-one. Their best strategy will be to rotate bodies, bump him early on drives, and hope Greece’s perimeter shooting falters. But Giannis has been here before. He has faced playoff defenses in the NBA, championship series where every possession is a war, and he has learned how to assert himself when everything is stacked against him. That’s why this prediction isn’t just bold; it feels prophetic.</p><p>Giannis is going to explode for at least 35 points. Not a quiet 35, but an emphatic, force-of-nature 35 that comes from dunks in transition, bruising finishes through contact, and trips to the free throw line. This will be his “I’m still the most dominant player in this tournament” performance, the type of game that silences any doubts about whether Greece can ride his back into the medal rounds. When the pressure rises, Giannis rises higher, and this quarterfinal feels like the moment for him to unleash his most unstoppable scoring night yet.</p><h2><b>Giannis controls the glass with 15+ rebounds</b></h2><p>Scoring may be the most visible part of Giannis’ brilliance, but his rebounding has always been the silent weapon that separates him from other stars. Averaging nearly 10 boards through four games, he has already been a constant presence cleaning the glass. Against Lithuania, this becomes even more critical. Lithuania’s strength lies in its size and rebounding; they are not a team that thrives purely off perimeter creation, but one that builds extra possessions through offensive rebounds and imposes its will physically.</p><p>For Greece to win, Giannis must turn rebounding into a one-man demolition job. The bold prediction here is that he will finish with 15 or more rebounds, asserting himself as the single most dominant force in the paint. His ability to secure defensive boards will shut down Lithuania’s second-chance opportunities, while his offensive rebounding will give Greece easy putbacks and extra possessions in what will likely be a tight game.</p><p>This is where Giannis’ relentless motor shines. He doesn’t just rebound with size; he rebounds with desire. Every board he grabs is a statement, every rebound wrestled away from Lithuania’s big men a blow to their confidence. If he hits 15 or more rebounds, Greece will tilt the possession battle heavily in their favor, neutralizing one of Lithuania’s greatest strengths and turning the game into a showcase of Greek control.</p><h2><b>A game-sealing defensive performance from Antetokounmpo</b></h2><p>Numbers tell one story, but impact tells another. Giannis’ scoring and rebounding will likely headline the stat sheet, but defense could ultimately be where he stamps his legacy in this game. Lithuania’s guards and wings are not known for overwhelming shot creation, which means their offense relies on structure, ball movement, and interior touches. That’s exactly where Giannis’ defensive versatility can wreck everything.</p><p>The bold prediction here is that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/giannis-antetokounmpo-bold-predictions-greece-eurobasket-2025">Giannis will deliver a game-sealing</a> defensive performance, the type of effort where he not only blocks shots but deters drives altogether, creating a ripple effect that suffocates Lithuania’s offense. He has averaged nearly a block and a steal per game in the tournament, but this quarterfinal is where he could push that to another level, recording multiple highlight defensive plays that swing momentum.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Greece marches to the quarterfinals behind Giannis Antetokounmpo's 37-point performance 🇬🇷 <a href="https://t.co/hFdRytcpTi">pic.twitter.com/hFdRytcpTi</a></p><p>— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_Philippines/status/1964946886760239430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Picture a fourth-quarter sequence where Lithuania is trying to cut into Greece’s lead, only for Antetokounmpo to chase down a layup attempt, swat it into the crowd, and ignite a fast break dunk on the other end. Or imagine him stepping into the passing lane for a steal, turning defense into instant offense. These are the moments that not only win games but define tournaments. A defensive masterpiece from Giannis would send a message to the rest of EuroBasket: Greece is not just relying on his scoring; they are powered by his all-around dominance.</p><h2>Greece’s path forward</h2><p>The good news for Greece is that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-giannis-gets-no-limitations-declaration-greece-coach">Antetokounmpo has been built for moments like this</a>. His scoring has reached devastating levels of efficiency, his rebounding has anchored the team in key stretches, and his defense remains a weapon that can shift outcomes. Add to that the veteran presence of players like Kostas Sloukas and the shooting of Tyler Dorsey, and Greece has the pieces to complement their superstar.</p><p>I predict Greece will win the quarterfinal, and Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again prove why, in any gym and any tournament, he is the most unstoppable force in basketball.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Giannis Antetokounmpo bold predictions for Greece’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Lithuania

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-greek-coach-giannis-antetokounmpo-officiating-luka-doncic-comparison');   ga('set', 'title', 'Greek coach blasts Giannis Antetokounmpo officiating with Luka Doncic comparison');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/EuroBasket-news-Greek-coach-blasts-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-officiating-with-Luka-Doncic-comparison.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Greek coach blasts Giannis Antetokounmpo officiating with Luka Doncic comparison</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-05T10:05:45-07:00">September 5th, 10:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-05T10:05:45-07:00">September 5th, 10:05am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Greece head coach Vassilis Spanoulis <a href="https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurobasket/1864609/vassilis-spanoulis-you-cant-have-luka-with-23-free-throws-per-game-and-giannis-begging-to-get-a-foul/" rel="noopener">criticized officiating standards</a> at <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/eurobasket-news-alperen-sengun-thing-clear-nikola-jokic-win">EuroBasket 2025</a> after his team’s 96-80 win over Spain, arguing that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has not received fair treatment compared with other international stars such as Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic.</p><p>In his postgame press conference via Eurohoops, Spanoulis highlighted the disparity in free throw attempts between teams and pointed directly to Antetokounmpo’s limited trips to the line.</p><p>“One more time, I have seen a lot of difference in the number of free throws. I have to see the game again. In such a game, one team can’t have 37 attempts and the other 19,” Spanoulis said. “You can’t have Luka (Doncic) and other players taking 20-23 free throws per game and Giannis begging to get a foul while getting hacked. At least two times, he should have been awarded unsportmanlike fouls, and we have to face everybody with the same criteria. If we face Luka, Jokic, and Sengun, Markkanen, like this, we have to face Giannis the same way. Just 12 free throws are few for Giannis; he could have had another 10 for sure.”</p><p>Spanoulis emphasized that his criticism was not aimed at Spain’s coaching staff or players but at the officiating standards.</p><p>“We have a team in which we respect everybody, and first of all, me, as a person, I respect a lot coach Scariolo and Spain, which has accomplished amazing things over the last 15 years,” Spanoulis said. “But I have to be fair with myself and the game, and to say the truth.”</p><h2><b>Giannis Antetokounmpo powers Greece to Round of 16 as Luka Doncic shines for Slovenia at EuroBasket</b></h2><p>Antetokounmpo dominated the game despite the controversy, nearly recording a triple-double. He finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 7-for-12 from the free throw line in 31 minutes. He posted a game-high efficiency rating of 35 and a plus/minus of +12.</p><p>The victory secured Greece’s position at the top of Group C with a 4-1 record, tied with Italy. Antetokounmpo has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, ranking second in scoring average at 27.7 points per game and third in rebounds at 9.7 per contest. He has also averaged five assists, one steal, and carried an efficiency rating of 32.3 with a plus/minus of +18. He has shot 69.6 percent from the field and 62.1 percent from the free throw line, attempting nearly 10 free throws per game.</p><p>Greece now turns its attention to the Round of 16 on Sunday in Riga, where it will face Israel. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/eurobasket-news-luka-doncic-performance-fans-berserk">Israeli side enters the knockout stage following a 106-96 defeat to Slovenia</a>, a game highlighted by Doncic’s dominant performance. The Lakers star produced 37 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and one block, while shooting 12-for-21 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the line.</p><p>The Round of 16 meeting will test Greece’s ability to maintain momentum as Antetokounmpo continues to play at an elite level amid scrutiny of officiating consistency.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Greek coach blasts Giannis Antetokounmpo officiating with Luka Doncic comparison

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/utah-jazz/eurobasket-news-jazz-jusuf-nurkic-reacts-giannis-antetokounmpo-dnp');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jazz’ Jusuf Nurkic gets real on Giannis Antetokounmpo absence in Bosnia’s EuroBasket win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jazz-and-Bosnia-center-Jusuf-Nurkic.jpg"><figcaption>Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jazz’ Jusuf Nurkic gets real on Giannis Antetokounmpo absence in Bosnia’s EuroBasket win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-02T08:49:40-07:00">September 2nd, 8:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-02T08:50:58-07:00">September 2nd, 8:50am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic spoke after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-why-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-dnp-greece-loss">Bosnia’s EuroBasket win over Greece</a> and made it clear that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence didn’t change much. The Jazz center <a href="https://x.com/Tsaltas46/status/1962886766601424986" rel="noopener">explained</a> that Bosnia approached the game with the same mindset on both ends of the floor. The Greece-Bosnia EuroBasket matchup was always going to demand discipline, with or without Giannis.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Jusuf Nurkic if Giannis' absence changed the game plan for Bosnia. "It didn't change a lot. We had the same attachment on offense or defense. Regardless of who gonna play there, you have to have the same discipline. "<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GREBIH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GREBIH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/athletiko_gr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@athletiko_gr</a> <a href="https://t.co/gdpnKDylEk">pic.twitter.com/gdpnKDylEk</a></p><p>— Christos Tsaltas (@Tsaltas46) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tsaltas46/status/1962886766601424986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Asked if the game plan shifted, Nurkic gave a simple response. “It didn’t change a lot,” he said. “We had the same attachment on offense or defense. Regardless of who gonna play there, you have to have the same discipline.” Bosnia stuck to its structure and executed.</p><p>Jusuf Nurkic anchored the paint and used his size to set the tone on both ends. As a result, Greece struggled to find its usual inside presence without Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Nurkic made it clear that Bosnia never underestimated them. “You still have to respect the opponent,” he said. “One guy doesn’t change everything.”</p><p>Meanwhile, earlier in the tournament, Nurkic talked about the challenge of stopping Giannis. He said the key was to “build the wall” in transition and force him into tougher shots. Even though Giannis didn’t play, Bosnia still applied the same defensive principles to keep Greece out of rhythm.</p><p>Off the court, there had been some tension within the Bosnia camp. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/utah-jazz/jazzs-jusuf-nurkic-blasted-bosnias-eurobasket-coach">Head coach Adis Beciragic recently criticized Nurkic’s fitness</a>, saying he “was out of shape and could barely run” after a 15-point performance in a loss to Montenegro. Because of this, the comments sparked discussion around Bosnia’s preparation, but Nurkic responded with leadership on the floor.</p><p>In the end, for Bosnia, the win was about discipline and focus. They stuck to the plan and trusted the system, no matter who lined up against them. Ultimately, Nurkic’s steady presence continues to guide the team as they push deeper into EuroBasket.</p><p>Can Bosnia keep this momentum going and make a deeper EuroBasket run?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jazz’ Jusuf Nurkic gets real on Giannis Antetokounmpo absence in Bosnia’s EuroBasket win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-why-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-dnp-greece-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in Greece’s loss to Bosnia at EuroBasket');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bucks-and-Greece-superstar-Giannis-Antetokounmpo.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in Greece’s loss to Bosnia at EuroBasket</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-02T08:26:29-07:00">September 2nd, 8:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-02T08:27:24-07:00">September 2nd, 8:27am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Although coach Vassilis Spanoulis <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/eurobasket-news-giannis-gets-no-limitations-declaration-greece-coach">previously said there would be “no limitations”</a> on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s EuroBasket minutes, the Bucks superstar sat out as Greece fell to Bosnia, 80-77. His <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-ruled-out-next-eurobasket-game/5f993a01fabdb98fdc5eabd1" rel="noopener">late scratch</a> shocked EuroBasket fans and instantly became the biggest storyline of the night. Giannis Antetokounmpo injury updates quickly trended as questions rose about his status moving forward.</p><p>Officials explained the absence was due to knee discomfort. Specifically, team officials confirmed that Giannis felt tightness just before the game. As a result, after consulting with the medical staff, the decision was made to rest him. Ultimately, the move was precautionary, designed to protect his long-term health.</p><p>Without Giannis, however, Greece struggled to find their rhythm. Meanwhile, Bosnia capitalized on the gap left by the two-time MVP. Consequently, Greece’s offense slowed, and their defense lacked its usual energy. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/giannis-antetokounmpo-bold-predictions-greece-eurobasket-2025">Giannis Antetokounmpo’s EuroBasket value</a> goes beyond scoring. Not only does he score, but he also draws defenders, creates space, and energizes the team. Without him, therefore, Greece’s chemistry faltered.</p><p>In response, Coach Vassilis Spanoulis tried several rotations, but no player could match Giannis’s impact. As a result, Bosnia attacked the paint, controlled the boards, and punished Greece’s defense. Even though the crowd brought energy, Greece simply couldn’t keep up.</p><p>Furthermore, this marked the second game Giannis missed in the tournament. He also sat out against Cyprus earlier to manage his workload. Given EuroBasket’s demanding schedule, Greece continues to prioritize his recovery. In short, protecting the Bucks star now is key to their long-term success.</p><p>Even with this loss, Greece already secured a spot in the next round. However, their unbeaten run came to an end against Bosnia. Naturally, fans hope Giannis returns soon to restore momentum as the stakes rise.</p><p>For now, Greece must adjust without their leader. If Giannis Antetokounmpo returns healthy, their EuroBasket hopes remain alive. Until then, however, they face tougher battles ahead without their Bucks-born superstar.</p><p>Can Greece survive the EuroBasket grind without their biggest weapon?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in Greece’s loss to Bosnia at EuroBasket

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