On August 30th, Greece defeated Italy 75-66 in the opening match of the 2025 European Championship, thanks to a dominant performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. He scored 31 points, added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, becoming the core of the team.

Italy kept the lead close throughout the first half. Midway through the third quarter, the score was just 41-45 , but Greece, with superior execution on both offense and defense, went on an 11-3 run to pull within 56-44 . Although Italy fought back in the final quarter, closing the gap to 66-71 with 49 seconds left , Antetokounmpo's dunk sealed the victory.

Throughout the game, Antetokounmpo displayed a comprehensive offensive game, gaining control of the Italian defense. He not only scored repeatedly at the rim but also finished in crucial moments, earning him the unsurprising TCL Player of the Year award.

The Greek offense was highly efficient, shooting 59% from two-point range and 39% from three-point range . They also limited Italy to 36% overall , including just 26% from three-point range . Furthermore, Greece's defense focused heavily on Italian NBA star Simone Fontecchio, who scored just 4 points in 34 minutes, shooting 1 for 11 and completely dominated by the defense.

This victory not only marked Greece's eighth victory over Italy in European Championship history, but Greece will now face host Cyprus in their second match, expected to be in front of another packed crowd, while Italy will face Georgia.