Serbia wins in battle of MVPs between Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Nikola Jokic leads the Serbian National team (2-3) to an important victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece (3-2) in the World Cup 2023 qualifiers game with a final score of 100-94 (31-25, 20-19, 19-19, 17-24, 13-7). In a duel between two NBA …

Nikola Jokic leads the Serbian National team (2-3) to an important victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece (3-2) in the World Cup 2023 qualifiers game with a final score of 100-94 (31-25, 20-19, 19-19, 17-24, 13-7). In a duel between two NBA superstars, Serbia kept their chances alive to qualify for the 2023 World Cup after defeating Greece, despite 40-point performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Source: BasketNews

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Heated battle from two MVPs tonight in Belgrade: 🇬🇷 Giannis Antetokounmpo’s career-night was not enough, as Serbia with 🇷🇸 Nikola Jokic wins a thriller after over time ✊
#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/x0lEpCXvDx4:37 PM

Michael Singer @msinger
You know what? Think a Nuggets-Bucks Finals would be pretty, pretty tasty.
Joker (29 points) outduels Giannis (40) as Serbia knocks off Greece. – 4:26 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Serbia (FIBA WC Qualifiers)
40 points (career-high with Greek National Team)
14-25 FG
10-14 FT
8 rebounds
5 assists
2 steals
3 turnovers
#SRBGRE #FeartheDeer #FIBAWCQ4:24 PM
GeorgeZakkas @ZakkasGeorge
That was an EPIC DUEL for the #FIBAWC Qualifiers.
Nikola Jokic: 29PTS, 8REB, 6AST.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 40PTS, 8REB, 5AST.
Serbia won the game vs Greece in the overtime (100-94). #SRBGRE pic.twitter.com/tIN2a8OEgQ4:24 PM

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Photo of @DLineCo body the moment his soul ascended to basketball heaven once Jokic hit a Sombor Shuffle. pic.twitter.com/SQ1W92IJLk4:17 PM

Katy Winge @katywinge
NIKOLA JOKIĆ SOMBOR SHUFFLE OVER GIANNIS pic.twitter.com/5EFqAa6Mjr4:16 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
BELGRADE — Nikola Jokic might be better than he was last season. – 4:09 PM
Nicolas Batum @nicolas88batum
How Jokic just made this step back, turnaround, one foot 3 with Giannis all over him in the corner? 🤦🏽‍♂️ – 4:02 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
HOLY SHIT JOKER – 3:58 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Thanasis Antetokounmpo is Greece’s game changer in Belgrade. His energy is contagious to the whole team on both ends. #SRBGRE #HellasBasketball #FearTheDeer3:51 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
This has the feeling of a classic Nikola Jokic 4th quarter. – 3:48 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
What a finish from Nikola Mulitinov.
Serbia remains up 7 thru three quarters, 70-63. Joker will probably come back in pretty soon. He’s played just 19 of 30 minutes. Giannis has played 25 minutes. – 3:36 PM
Katy Winge @katywinge
Wishing I was in Serbia watching Jokić vs Giannis rn – 3:33 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Kostas Antetokounmpo is out for the rest of the game vs Serbia due to an irritation in the patellar tendon of the right foot. #SRBGRE #HellasBasketball3:28 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic has guarded Giannis on every possession since halftime. He’s routinely stopping him 1-on-1 too. – 3:21 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Joker’s defense on Giannis has been awesome. – 3:20 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Serbia’s Vasilije Micic and Greece’s Kostas Antetokounmpo were forced to exit the World Cup Qualifiers game between the two sides
eurohoops.net/en/fiba/138127…3:19 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Serbia – Greece 51-44 (Half time)
Nikola Jokic
11 pts / 5-7 FG / 4 rebs / 3 asts / 5 tos
Giannis Antetokounmpo
17 pts / 5-10 FG / 4 rebs / 4 asts / 1 stl / 1 to
#SRBGRE #Milehighbasketball #FeartheDeer #FIBAWCQ2:54 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
51-44 halftime lead for Serbia
Jokic 11 p.
Giannis 17 p.
pic.twitter.com/3KXhnWCrsq2:53 PM

GeorgeZakkas @ZakkasGeorge
Giannis Antetokounmpo had an amazing first half vs Serbia: 17 points (4/8 2PTS, 1/2 3PTS, 6/8 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal. Serbia is up by +7 (51-44). #SRBGRE #HellasBasketball2:53 PM
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Nikola Jokic with a tough, tough finish over Giannis to take a 46-42 lead and get him up to 9 points.
This Belgrade crowd loves it! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/QLmPy3tLmJ2:51 PM

GeorgeZakkas @ZakkasGeorge
Alert: Vasilije Micic and Kostas Antetokounmpo were injured (not in the same play) during the 2nd quarter of Serbia – Greece game. Both of them went to the locker rooms. Extreme anxiety… #SRBGRE2:48 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Jokic vs. Giannis at Stark Arena
The two players responsible for the last four MVP’s
Iconic
📸 @RyanGreeneDNVR pic.twitter.com/vp1TiudB0O2:37 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Thansis is trying to be an irritant to Joker right now. – 2:34 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Kostas Antetokounmpo plays like a veteran player against Serbia. His confidence is really high and shows his aggresiveness and his development on both ends. Really good to see him play #SRBGRE #FIBAWCQ2:33 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Nice extended rest for Jokic as Serbian is on a roll. 37-28. – 2:26 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Serbia vs Greece (1st quarter)
Nikola Jokic
4 points / 2-3 FG / 1 rebound / 2 assists / 4 turnovers
Giannis Antetokounmpo
10 points / 4-5 FG / 1 rebound / 4 assists / 1 steal
#Milehighbasketball #FearTheDeer #FIBAWCQ #SRBGRE2:20 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Mulitinov is legit good. Might see a two big lineup with Joker later in this game. – 2:15 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Not a strong start for Joker with 4 turnovers, but he’s a notorious slow starter in these formats. Nikola Mulitinov came in for him a couple minutes ago but Giannis stayed in and did some more work. – 2:13 PM
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Looks like I have company to watch. @Tobias Harris bff @Boban Marjanovic
Going to ask him if he wants to play on the same team as Nikola Jokic. @DNVR_Nuggets @DNVR_Sports #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/0mO5xgfURz2:12 PM

Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Giannis with a pass to his brother for the connection! pic.twitter.com/xFFSyGv4e92:08 PM

Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Nikola Jokic on the board vs. Greece. #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/AtnmGU9ODX2:03 PM

Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
It’s time.
Nikola Jokic vs. Giannis
I’m courtside, in Belgrade. What a dream! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/C63qkOO0Wv2:02 PM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Of course Zeljko Obradovic is not missing a battle between 🇷🇸 Jokic’s Serbia and 🇬🇷 Giannis’ Greece in Belgrade 😎
#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/pmrXDRxMXO1:57 PM

Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
VERY loud cheer when Nikola Jokic was brought out.
It’s game time!! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/52Jlv8Zt4W1:53 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Tonight is a must-win for Serbia vs. Giannis and Greece. They need it to qualify for next year’s World Cup. The pressure is on. We’ve felt it here all week. It’s a massive, massive game. pic.twitter.com/BsBZ1SDtjb1:16 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Serbia-Greece starts in 1.5 hours. Courtside 1891 is broadcasting it for a fee. I’m not sure if folks will be able to find it for free.
If Serbia loses, they’re out. Jokić v Giannis. Hyped up. – 12:40 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
As best as I can tell, Davis Bertans and Latvia start the Mavs-centric Europe action today against Turkey at 11:30 a.m. Dallas time. Tyler Dorsey and Greece play some dude named Jokic and Serbia at 1 p.m. Luka and Slovenia against Estonia at 1:30. Canada plays later tonight. – 11:11 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
How Dimitrios Itoudis makes Giannis Antetokounmpo unstoppable ✊🇬🇷
Full episode: https://t.co/1vdHPQQwVE pic.twitter.com/uBnwgqVpU810:00 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Tonight the last two NBA MVPs will face off in a FIBA game 🔥
🇷🇸 Nikola Jokic (2021 & 2022)
🇬🇷 Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019 & 2020)
When had this happened before? At the 2008 Beijing Olympics:
🇺🇸 Kobe Bryant (2008)
🇩🇪 Dirk Nowitzki (2007)
(via @HellenicBF)
#FIBAWC #WinForAll8:26 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Who will win EuroBasket? Greece & Giannis Antetokounpo, Slovenia & Luka Doncic, Serbia & Nikola Jokic, or maybe Turkey with Ergin Ataman & Shane Larkin in front? 👀
Pick your winners and win prizes here:
basketnews.com/news-176810-eu…1:47 AM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
New @lockedonbucks w/@adaniels33
Great chat on the offseason with Antonio.
-Did the offseason make sense?
-How should the team attack the regular season?
-Bud’s evolution as a coach
-Giannis and Tim Duncan similarities
📺 https://t.co/FdXNPFqynu
🎙️ https://t.co/fq5or6OoXX pic.twitter.com/QflJxxvaUH12:10 AM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Rakija Hour from Belgrade
– Champions League match
– Misko (Jokic’s agent) interview
– Reviewing the trip so far
youtube.com/watch?v=HICHMS…5:55 PM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Could an NBA comeback be on the cards for Kostas Antetokounmpo?
Giannis’ younger brother has reportedly had some talks with an NBA team ⤵️
basketnews.com/news-176889-ko…5:22 PM

More on this storyline

 

Christos Tsaltas: Nikola Jokic vs Greece (FIBA WC Qualifiers) 29 points 11-16 FG 5-10 FT 8 rebounds 6 assists 1 steal 6 turnovers #SRBGRE #Milehighbasketball #FIBAWCQ -via Twitter @Tsaltas46 / August 25, 2022
Christos Tsaltas: Ahead of tomorrow’s Serbia – Greece game in Belgrade: No Nemanja Bjelica for Serbia. No Georgios Papagiannis and Ioannis Papapetrou for Greece. BUT, Jokic and Giannis will be there, ready to fight. The battle of the MVPs! #MileHighBasketball #FearTheDeer #FIBAWorldCup -via Twitter @Tsaltas46 / August 24, 2022
The 12 players available for Greece’s away game against Serbia were revealed by the Hellenic Basketball Federation Wednesday. The list includes Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Considered doubtful to play, both Giorgos Papagiannis and Ioannis Papapetrou were officially ruled out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Group I opener in Belgrade. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Giannis Kouzeloglou will miss the trip as well. -via EuroHoops.net / August 24, 2022
BasketNews: Nikola Jokic & Boban Marjanovic are a duo you need at every party – especially Bogdan Bogdanovic’s birthday 🕺😅 🎥 hotsport.rs/Instagram -via Twitter @BasketNews_com / August 23, 2022