Greece meets Israel on Sunday with gold medal dreams hanging in the balance. Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked unstoppable through group play, but Israel has already shocked Europe twice this tournament. Can they make it three?
When and Where Can You Watch Greece vs Israel?
The Greece vs Israel game tips off Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 2:45 p.m. ET in Riga.
Fans can catch all the action live on Courtside 1891, the official streaming platform for EuroBasket and FIBA competitions. The service offers single-event passes or the Max Annual plan for complete tournament coverage.
How Dominant Has Giannis Antetokounmpo Been for Greece?
Greece rolled through Group C with a 4-1 record, punctuated by that massive 90-86 victory over defending champions Spain. Antetokounmpo absolutely took over in that game, dropping 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds while shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 7-for-12 from the free throw line. It was the kind of performance that announced Greece as a legitimate title contender.
The GREEK FREAK delivers! 🇬🇷
Giannis leads Greece to a win over Spain with a MONSTER performance.
📊 25 PTS | 14 REB | 9 AST#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/w2HheMpmqG
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 4, 2025
The only stumble came against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that happened without Giannis on the court. Even so, Greece bounced back with quality wins over Italy and Spain, showing they can handle elite competition.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis knows his team needs more consistency. Beyond those dominant stretches against Italy and Spain, Greece has struggled to maintain top-level play for full games. That’s concerning when you’re looking at championship aspirations.
Still, with Antetokounmpo averaging nearly 29 points and 10 rebounds on incredible efficiency, plus veteran leadership from Kostas Sloukas, Tyler Dorsey, and Kostas Papanikolaou, Greece has every reason to feel confident. The supporting cast has stepped up when needed, giving Giannis the help he requires.
Giannis splashing threes.
Just give Greece the trophy, why don’t you? 🇬🇷#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/sJyZqocoAv— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 31, 2025
The challenge for Greece will be finding the right balance. Giannis commands so much attention that he opens up opportunities for everyone else, but those players need to capitalize consistently. When they do, Greece looks unstoppable.
What Makes Israel Dangerous as an Underdog?
Don’t let the talent gap fool you. Israel has already proven they can pull off major upsets this tournament. They finished group play 3-2 with impressive wins over Belgium, Iceland, and that stunning victory against France that nobody saw coming.
Deni Avdija has been the driving force behind Israel’s success, averaging 24.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and three assists per game. He’s elevated his play to another level when it matters most. Roman Sorkin provides crucial floor spacing as a modern big man, while Yam Madar controls the tempo from the point guard spot.
However, Israel’s depth remains a major question mark. Beyond their core trio, production has been hit-or-miss throughout the tournament. They also can’t afford to be careless with the basketball against Greece’s physical defense. Turnovers have been an ongoing issue that could prove costly in a tight game.
For Israel to have any chance, Avdija needs to deliver another elite performance while Sorkin and Madar push the pace relentlessly. They can’t let Greece turn this into a grinding half-court battle where size and experience take over.
The historical matchup heavily favors Greece. They’ve beaten Israel in every official meeting since 1997Â in this rivalry. With Giannis healthy and motivated for his first EuroBasket title run, Greece has both the talent and tournament experience to control this game from start to finish.
Israel has shown they can shock Europe, but the mountain they need to climb against Greece looks steep. Expect the favorites to advance and set up an intriguing quarterfinal clash with Lithuania, while Israel heads home knowing they exceeded expectations just by reaching the Round of 16.
