Reigning MVP Antetokounmpo’s Greece fall to US at World Cup

NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was unable to save Greece as holders US reached the Basketball World Cup quarter-finals with a 69-53 win on Saturday.

In front of a capacity 12,000 crowd in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, Gregg Popovich’s world and Olympic champions had two or sometimes three players on Greece’s danger man.

Also into the quarter-finals were Australia and France, but Greece need a big win over the Czech Republic on Monday to advance.

San Antonio Spurs coach Popovich, whose team is warming to the task of lifting a third title in a row, said: “It was a good test and helped us get better. That’s our goal to get better in every one of these games.”

“But that’s expected from 12 guys who have never played together before... each day that we have we hope that our execution can get better and better, and as coaches learn what’s best for these guys.”

There was a buzz of anticipation each time Antetokounmpo had possession and despite close American attention he finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Kemba Walker top-scored for the holders with 15 points and also had six assists.

After a tight first quarter when Antetokounmpo scored seven points, Team USA -- whose roster is one of the youngest in the competition at average age 26 -- turned the screws.

They were up 13 points at half-time and Antetokounmpo, serenaded by chants of “MVP! MVP!”, missed two free throws in the third as the US stretched into an insurmountable lead.

Andrew Bogut was branded “the ultimate professional” by Australia’s coach after he was booed throughout an 82-76 win over the Dominican Republic.

The 34-year-old, a key member of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA championship-winning roster in 2015, has been heckled and jeered throughout Australia’s successful campaign by Chinese fans angry with a barbed comment about national swimming hero Sun Yang.

There was more of the same in Nanjing, but centre Bogut is relishing it and has not been afraid to fan the flames with sarcastic tweets referring to his “Chinese fans”.

Bogut has been targeted after he tweeted in July: “Swimmers who medal vs Sun Yang should break the podiums with hammers.”

Agence France-Presse