A Mavericks’ connection continued to find good success on Day Two of the FIBA EuroBasket tournament.
Tyler Dorsey, the Mavericks’ guard who signed a two-way contract earlier this summer, helped spring Greece out of a close game, made key plays late and showed again that he is a perfect lieutenant to Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Greeks whipped Croatia 89-85 on Friday at Milan, Italy.
Dorsey had 20 points by halftime and finished with 27, matching Antetokounmpo as the Greek national team won its opening match of the tournament, which runs through Sept. 18.
The Croatians crept within 84-82 with 1:19 to go and a good defensive stand against Antetokounmpo gave Croatia the ball. But Ivica Zubac could not convert a close shot and Antetokounmpo threw in a lob pass over his head with 45 seconds left to put the Greeks up by four.
Greece closed the first quarter on a 21-6 blitz as Dorsey had 10 points. By the middle of the second quarter, the Greeks led 40-21. And this was against a Croatian team with NBA players Bojan Bogdanovic, Dario Saric, Mario Hezonja and Zubac.
Just as in most NBA games, a rally was coming.
When Croatia got within 62-60 in the third, Dorsey nailed a 3-pointer to stall the Croatians’ momentum. Dorsey also had a midrange bucket that made the score 79-73 to keep the Croatians from staging a late rally.
Greece is back in action Saturday at 2 p.m. against Italy.
Meanwhile, Luka Dončić, fresh off of Thursday’s 92-85 win over Lithuania, also plays Saturday against Hungary at 1:30 p.m., Dallas time.
Twitter: @Esefko
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