TBILISI (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Nick Calathes played a game for the ages and Greece needed exactly that from the point guard in defeating Georgia 86-85 and qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

The 29-year-old playmaker scored a personal Greek national team high 31 points as he nailed 7 three-pointers in hitting 12-of-20 shots. He also dished out 7 assists, including the pass in the waning seconds to Kostas Papanikolaou for the game-winning layup at the buzzer for a perfect 8-0 record in Group L.

When asked about where the performance ranks in his long career with Greece's national team, Calathes said: "It was up there for sure. I felt good, my shot was feeling good. They were giving me the three-pointer. For us to get the win it meant a lot. I think there's probably been more important games in the European Championship, World Championship. But this means a lot for us because it gives us our place in China to play for the World Championship so I would put it up there close to one of the best."

Calathes also chipped in 5 rebounds and 2 steals in moving his averages to 19.0 points on 52 percent three-point shooting, 6.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals in three European Qualifiers games.

FIBA