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 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?

GeorgeZakkas @ZakkasGeorge
Right now the Greek NT is dealing with four injury problems: Kostas Sloukas, Ioannis Papapetrou, Georgios Papagiannis & Kostas Antetokounmpo. The next few days will be very crucial and the medical examinations will determine the Greek lineup for the #EuroBasket. #HellasBasketball – 5:34 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Jokic with a Sombor Shuffle to give Serbia a 8 point lead over Greece. He’s up to 23 points in the game with 1:15 left on the clock.
The crowd it! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/27FDedZgHc – 5:29 PM Katy Winge @katywinge
“In the land of MVPs”
Another angle of Jokić over Giannis that must be shared
pic.twitter.com/hDzkWaTNQs – 5:26 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis vs Jokic head-to-head matchups:
Giannis — Jokic —
23/10/5 22/10/8
52.7 FG% 56.5 FG%
Jokic is up 8-4. pic.twitter.com/E8nCwEg9H4 – 5:05 PM GeorgeZakkas @ZakkasGeorge
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only Greek player who shot free throws in Belgrade (10/14 FT) vs Serbia and Tyler Dorsey talked about it in the press conference.
“I’m just very surpised. If you find that in any other game let me know”, he said. #SRBGRE pic.twitter.com/leGnzvQXDD – 4:55 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
The battle of the MVPs in Belgrade
Nikola Jokic vs Giannis Antetokounmpo shot chart.
Jokic: 11-16 FG
Giannis: 14-25 FG
#SRBGRE #MileHighBasketball #FearTheDeer #FIBAWCQ pic.twitter.com/iokbegKELJ – 4:49 PM 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/x0lEpCXvDx – 4:37 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 #FIBAWCQ – 4:24 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/tIN2a8OEgQ – 4:24 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/SQ1W92IJLk – 4:17 PM Katy Winge @katywinge
NIKOLA JOKIĆ SOMBOR SHUFFLE OVER GIANNIS pic.twitter.com/5EFqAa6Mjr – 4:16 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 #FearTheDeer – 3:51 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 #HellasBasketball – 3:28 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 #FIBAWCQ – 2:54 PM Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
51-44 halftime lead for Serbia
Jokic 11 p.
Giannis 17 p.
pic.twitter.com/3KXhnWCrsq – 2:53 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 #HellasBasketball – 2:53 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/QLmPy3tLmJ – 2:51 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… #SRBGRE – 2:48 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/vp1TiudB0O – 2:37 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 #FIBAWCQ – 2:33 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 #SRBGRE – 2:20 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/0mO5xgfURz – 2:12 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Giannis with a pass to his brother for the connection! pic.twitter.com/xFFSyGv4e9 – 2:08 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Nikola Jokic on the board vs. Greece. #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/AtnmGU9ODX – 2:03 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
It’s time.
Nikola Jokic vs. Giannis
I’m courtside, in Belgrade. What a dream! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/C63qkOO0Wv – 2:02 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/pmrXDRxMXO – 1:57 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
VERY loud cheer when Nikola Jokic was brought out.
It’s game time!! #DNVRSerbia pic.twitter.com/52Jlv8Zt4W – 1:53 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/BsBZ1SDtjb – 1:16 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/uBnwgqVpU8 – 10:00 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 #WinForAll – 8:26 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/QflJxxvaUH – 12:10 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

FIBA Basketball World Cup: The 𝟒𝟎 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐒 scored by @Giannis Antetokounmpo against Serbia is a new individual record for the FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers #FIBAWC | #WinForHellas -via Twitter / August 25, 2022 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 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