Croatia advances in Olympic basketball field despite loss; Doncic, Slovenia still in the running

In a thrilling basketball showdown, Croatia managed to keep their Olympic hopes alive despite a tough loss to New Zealand. Ivica Zubac's impressive performance with 29 points and 16 rebounds, along with contributions from Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja, secured Croatia a spot in the semifinals with a four-point differential. However, their defeat leaves the door open for NBA star Luka Doncic and Slovenia to advance if they beat New Zealand by 21 points in their upcoming match. Meanwhile, Montenegro secured a hard-fought victory against Cameroon with Marko Simonovic leading the charge with 18 points. In another match, Greece dominated the Dominican Republic with Giannis Antetokounmpo's stellar performance, showcasing their strength in the tournament. The competition in Greece is part of the final qualifying tournaments for the Paris Olympics, with similar events taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. In other tournament highlights, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round with a win over Poland, while the Philippines and Spain also secured crucial victories in their respective groups. The road to the Olympics is heating up as teams battle it out for the remaining spots in the 12-team men's basketball field. With each qualifying tournament hosting six teams and running until July 7, the competition is fierce as teams vie for a chance to compete in Paris. As the basketball action unfolds across different venues, players like Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Domantas Sabonis are making significant impacts for their respective teams. With star-studded rosters and intense matchups, the race to secure the final Olympic berths promises more excitement and drama in the days to come.