EuroBasket 2023: Major Upsets and Highlights
In a stunning turn of events at EuroBasket 2023, defending champions Spain were knocked out at the group stage after a narrow defeat against Greece, with a final score of 90-86. Leading the charge for Greece, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed significantly with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Tyler Dorsey complemented his efforts by scoring 22 points, propelling Greece to the top of Group C and a spot in the round of 16, where they will face Israel on Sunday.
Entering their final group match with a 2-2 record, Spain was in desperate need of a victory after an earlier loss to Georgia had jeopardized their qualification hopes. While Greece had already secured their advancement with three victories, Spain started the matchup trailing 50-35 at the halftime mark. Despite a formidable comeback and briefly taking the lead in the fourth quarter, the Spaniards were ultimately unable to hold on, with Kostas Sloukas delivering crucial points in the dying minutes to clinch the win for Greece. Jaime Pradilla and Mario Saint-Supery contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, to Spain’s efforts, which included a previous championship win against France in 2022.
Other Key Matches
In another pivotal game on Thursday evening, Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic, triumphed over Georgia with a score of 84-76. Nurkic showcased his talent, scoring 15 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, marking his third consecutive double-double in the tournament. With this victory, Bosnia and Herzegovina will advance to face Poland in the knockout phase on Sunday. Despite the setback, Georgia managed to advance to the next round, finishing in fourth place in the group, and will challenge France next.
Meanwhile, Italy made a strong statement by overwhelming Cyprus with an 89-54 victory, solidifying their position for a match against Slovenia on Sunday.
Group D Dominance
In Group D, France continued to assert their dominance with a resounding 114-74 victory against Iceland. Zaccharie Risacher led the scoring with 15 points, and the team exhibited impressive depth with seven players contributing in double figures. With this win, France secured their position at the helm of Group D.
Adding to the excitement, Slovenia secured their third consecutive victory in Group D, propelled by an outstanding performance from Luka Doncic, who scored 37 points in their 106-96 win over Israel. The crowd in Katowice celebrated Doncic’s efforts, chanting for him as he exited the game. Both Slovenia and Israel have already qualified for the knockout phase, set to kick off on Saturday, featuring matchups like Turkey versus Sweden and Germany against Portugal.
