By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was a game decided in the end with Russia getting the 74-69 win and Dmitry Khvostov sealing the outcome. He gave a crucial 71-66 lead with 22 seconds left on the clock to Russia thanks to the biggest shot of the game, one of two free throws and he also got an offensive rebound that led to one more made free throw by Vitaly Fridzon (72-66).
Nick Calathes who had a career game with 25 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds answered with a three (72-69), but couldn’t get any closer.
Greece led by 13 points in the second period (35-22) and by 11 in the third (47-36). However, the team used a very short rotation with Calathes, Giannis Bourousis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Kostas Sloukas and Giorgos Printezis staying on the court for more than 32 minutes. In the end, they simply didn’t have any energy left in the tank.
Two faces of Shved: Greece’s defense kept Shved in check for the first half when he had just 4 points, 1/7 FG, three assists and four turnovers. But that was not the end of the story. The leader of the Russian national team scored 13 points in the third period and led the come back of his team. He finished the game with 26 points, 5 assists, 7 turnovers and 3 steals.
Free throws: With five minutes left in the game, Russia was perfect with 15/15 free throws, Greece had made half of their attempts (8/16). The score at this point was 67-60 for the Russians, their biggest lead of the game. In the end, Greece finished the night with 10 free throws made in 20 attempts and Russia had made 20 in 25 attempts.
(Photo credit: FIBA)