While the loss was tough to take after nearly completing a comeback from 19 points down in the third quarter, the fact the Boomers lost by seven meant any margin of victory for Canada would see the Boomers through. 

Fortunately for Australia, Canada completed an 88-85 win over Spain in a tight tussle that came down to the final shot of the match.

Now that they’ve qualified for the quarter-finals, the Boomers play their next game on 6 August against a to-be-determined opponent. The competition will shift from Pierre Mauroy Stadium to Bercy Arena in Paris.

Such was the tightness of qualifying, if the Boomers had lost to Greece by 10 or more their Olympic campaign would have been over.

At the centre of Greece’s win was NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Fifteen of those coming in the first half.

“If he’s got momentum, you’ve got no chance,” Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said.

“If the court is open, you’ve got no chance. In the second half we got our defence set.”

The Boomers started well at the Paris tournament, taking leads into the first-quarter break and half-time in the first two games, but Greece came out playing with the intensity of a team that had their Olympic hopes on life support.

Giannis pinned Jock Landale down low for the first points of the game to set the tone as part of an 8-2 run to start the game, including two team blocked shots on the defensive end.

Patty Mills made his first two three pointers of the game and Josh Giddey closed the first quarter with three made free throws after he was fouled on a three-point attempt, leaving Australia only down one at the first quarter break.

Dyson Daniels came off the court holding a knee after slipping to the ground early in the second quarter, during a 14-0 Greece run. Nick Kay stopped the bleeding with a mid-range jump shot set up by Dante Exum, and Dyson returned to the game five minutes later after going down.

Dante continued to make an impact on the offensive end for the Boomers at these Olympics. He skied high for a dunk, finishing through contact and followed that up with a between the legs three pointer.

Greece's largest first-half lead was 17 with 2:34 left in the second quarter when Giannis spined his way to an open layup.

“The first half was hero ball, head dropping and poor defence,” Goorjian said. 

“At half-time it looked diabolical.”

Matthew Dellavedova made his first appearance in the third quarter and Greece’s momentum started to slow, having an instant impact through his defence and hustle. 

The Boomers limited Greece to just 24 points in the second half.

“I’m always going to be ready whenever my number is called,” Delly said.

“I thought we responded well in the second half and wore them down a little bit but we’ve got to do that for 40 minutes.”

Jock trimmed the deficit to 12 when he was fouled on a made basket and he knocked down a free throw with 3:47 left in the quarter.

The fourth quarter start was an inspired one, as Jock got a wide-open dunk and the Boomers forced Greece into a backcourt turnover.

Dyson's three pointer pulled Australia within seven points with 7:18 left to play.

Patty’s mid-range jump shot from a Josh Giddey assist brought Australia within two points with 3:18 to play, on a night he became the fifth highest scorer in men's Olympic basketball history.

That would be as close as the Boomers got, with Greece responding on a three-pointer with 2:07 to play.

“We had many opportunities in the second half to win the game with good shots and the ball didn’t go in,” coach Brian said.

“We missed eleven free throws.”

The Boomers play their next game at  Bercy Arena in Paris on August 6.

Jeff Dickinson-Fox