Finishing off what they started yesterday Greece cruised past Croatia, rather more easily that anyone would anticipate and could have won even with a bigger score than 76-68, which was the final result.
Greece started off with a quick 4-0 but Croatia was quick to make it 4-5. The lead was taken and lost by both teams until the mid-first quarter when Greece pulled off basing their game of a good defense and Ioannis Bouroussis who did just about everything on the court, even shooting 2/2 threepointers. After 20-15 Repesa threw Planinic to help out Ukic on the court but things did not improve much for Croatia who saw Greece increasing their lead to 27-18.
Kazlauskas was quick to throw as many subs as possible in the court to keep his team fresh but that did not affect Greece much as 9 out of the 10 players used in the first half actually scored. The half time score was 52-31 for Greece with an amazing statline, 78% 2FG, 71% 3FG and nice assists.
But seems that Repesa had a serious teamtalk with his players in the locker rooms as in the beginning of the second half Croatia made a quick 13-2 run made the score 56-44. Kazlauskas called a time-out to stop Croatia's enthusiasm and by some points scored by Perperoglou Greece re-established a 20 points lead.
In the last quarter Croatians displayed a fine fighting spirit but unfortunately for them it was too little too late as the 20 points difference could not be overturned, despite the fact that at some point it was brought down to just six points. But that was it, as Spanoulis destroyed what Croatia was building basket by basket with an amazing late threepointer. Final score, 76-68.
Greeece 76-68 Croatia
Game quotes: Coming up shortly
