By Can Erozden
Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece beat Australia 77-71 in a Paris 2024 Olympic basketball group match on Friday to keep their last eight hopes alive.
Greek superstar Antetokounmpo, who regularly plays for the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA, scored 20 points to lead his team to the victory at Lille's Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Thomas Walkup, a Greek point guard, scored 18 points. Dinos Mitoglou and Vasilis Toliopoulos racked up 13 points each for Greece. Separately the whole Greece team had 11 steals.
Australia were led by Jock Landale, who had 17 points.
Patty Mills scored 13 points, and Dyson Daniels added 11 points for Australia.
One of the important European basketball nations, Greece picked up their first win in Group A but they did not ensure a berth in the knockouts.
Second-place Greece now depend on the result of the Canada vs. Spain game, which will be held Friday.
Like Greece, third-place Australia have 1-2 win/loss record, and their qualification for the next round is also uncertain.
Group A winners Canada clinched the Paris 2024 quarterfinals as they are going 2-0 before their game against Spain.
Spain previously lost out to Australia 92-80 on July 27, but then won against Greece 84-77.
The best two basketball nations in Group A, B, and C are advancing to the last eight. Two best third-ranked teams will join them.
In addition to Canada, host nation France, Germany and Team USA booked their places at the Paris Olympic basketball quarterfinals.
The Paris Games will end on Aug. 11.