EuroBasket Highlights
In a challenging matchup at EuroBasket, Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic delivered an impressive 39-point performance, yet it was not sufficient to secure a victory against a well-rounded French squad, resulting in Slovenia’s second consecutive loss, now standing at 0-2 in the tournament. The game, held on Saturday in Katowice, Poland, concluded with France triumphing 103-95, showcasing their deep roster strength.
Doncic’s Performance
Doncic, who also recorded eight rebounds and nine assists while converting 19 of 20 free-throw attempts, could not overcome the impact of France’s bench, which contributed a remarkable 78 points. France’s Sylvain Francisco was particularly notable, coming off the bench to lead all scorers with 32 points. Meanwhile, fellow teammates revealed balanced scoring with Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr from the Washington Wizards combining for 25 points and Atlanta Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher adding another 12 points.
Earlier in the week, Doncic had put up 34 points as Slovenia fell 105-95 to co-host Poland, marking a tough start for the team. As a result, Slovenia must regroup in the upcoming games to improve its standing.
Group D Updates
In Group D, Belgium managed to bounce back from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter, ultimately securing a 71-64 victory against Iceland, bringing their record to 1-1 while Iceland remains winless at 0-2.
Group B Developments
Shifting focus to Group B, Germany has solidified its position as a strong contender, becoming the first team to advance to the knockout stage after defeating Lithuania 107-88. Dennis Schröder led the German team with 26 points, supported by Franz Wagner’s 24 points and seven rebounds, as Germany maintained an undefeated 3-0 record. Notably, the team’s effective long-range shooting, with 19 three-pointers at a 54% success rate, was crucial for their victory.
Despite the win, Schröder faced racial abuse from fans during the game, which resulted in their ejection, a troubling incident that marred an otherwise successful outing. Lithuania’s Rokas Jokubaitis scored 20 points in the defeat, leaving them with a 2-1 record.
Other Notable Matches
In other notable matches, Miami Heat’s Pelle Larsson contributed 23 points, leading Sweden to a 78-59 win over Britain. Serbia, powered by Nikola Jokic’s 39 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, also claimed victory against Latvia to improve to 3-0, while Italy triumphed over Georgia 78-62, thanks in part to Simone Fontecchio’s impactful 14 points. Estonia secured a win over the Czech Republic with an 89-75 score.
