Luka Doncic's triple-double not enough to overcome Giannis-less Greece / News - Basketnews.com

Luka Doncic had a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists, but Slovenia lost against Greece in a friendly game. Thomas Walkup, who was granted Greek citizenship ahead of the FIBA World Cup 2023, scored 17 points for the visitors.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Thomas Walkup, who has played his first game with the Greek national team jersey, scored seven straight crucial points in crunch time, gifting Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greece a 98-91 away victory over Luka Doncic's Slovenia at the start of the FIBA World Cup 2023 preparation.

Thomas Walkup

Position:SGAge:30Height:193 cmWeight:88 kgBirth place:Texas, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Doncic had a triple-double of 21 points (5/13 FG, 9/17 FT), 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in 30 minutes of play, but it was not enough to grab a W.

Meanwhile, Walkup totaled 17 points and dished out six assists over 22 minutes.

However, it was his Olympiacos teammate Kostas Papanikolaou who scored a team-high 19 points to go along with four rebounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game as he is still recovering from an arthroscopy on his knee and remaining doubtful for the upcoming major basketball event, starting on August 25.

Following the home loss over Greece, Slovenia is scheduled to face Greece again on August 4, this time in Athens. After that match, Slovenia will meet Montenegro, Spain, Team USA, and Japan.

During the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Slovenia will play in Group F in Okinawa, Japan, and face Cape Verde, Georgia, and Venezuela.

Greece, instead, is left to play five preparation games ahead of World Cup: Slovenia (one more time), Serbia, Italy, Team USA, and Germany.

Dimitris Itoudis' team will compete in the group stage in Manila, facing Jordan, Team USA, and New Zealand.

Slovenia: Luka Doncic 21 (10 REB, 14 AST), Jordan Morgan 16, Vlatko Cancar 13, Klemen Prepelic 13, Zoran Dragic 12.

Greece: Kostas Papanikolaou 19, Thomas Walkup 17 (6 AST), Dinos Mitoglou 13, Michalis Lountzis 13.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.