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WATCH: Scuffle between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannoulis Larentzakis rocks Basketball world

In a closely contested basketball matchup, tensions flared between Canada and Greece, resulting in a brief scuffle between Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannoulis Larentzakis.

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Shubham Shekhar
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannoulis Larentzakis

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannoulis Larentzakis (Source: X)

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In a closely contested basketball matchup, tensions flared between Canada and Greece, resulting in a brief scuffle between Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Greece's Giannoulis Larentzakis. The incident took place after the final whistle.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been a standout performer for Canada, felt that Larentzakis had unnecessarily bumped his teammate, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, after the whistle. Which led to some heated exchange of words between the two.

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Addressing the incident, Gilgeous-Alexander was candid in his explanation. "I felt like Larentzakis bumped Nickeil Alexander-Walker after the whistle for no reason, so I just wanted to let him know that you don't play that," he remarked, emphasizing that the confrontation was resolved without further escalation.

Canada dominated Greece comfortably

The game itself was a testament to Canada's resilience and tactical execution. Despite the formidable presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored an impressive 34 points, Canada maintained control throughout most of the game.

Gilgeous-Alexander's leadership was crucial, especially in the first half, where he dominated the court. However, he was modest about his performance, acknowledging that he could have done better. "It was OK, I could've done better. I'll take the win, though," he reflected.

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Greece made several attempts to close the gap, pulling within a few points multiple times. Yet, Canada’s defensive tenacity and strategic play ensured they stayed ahead. Gilgeous-Alexander credited their aggressive approach and strong defensive closure for the victory.

"We did a lot of things well. We were the aggressors for most of the game. Especially in the first half, we were very good, we had control of the game. I think we just closed the game a little bit better defensively," he explained.

Offensively, while Canada created good opportunities, they struggled to convert some crucial shots in the game's final moments. Gilgeous-Alexander noted the importance of these moments but stressed that defensive stops can seal victories just as effectively.  

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