EuroBasket Quarterfinals: Slovenia vs. Germany
In a gripping quarterfinal match of EuroBasket held in Riga, Latvia, Slovenia’s Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance but fell short as Germany triumphed 99-91 on Wednesday. Doncic’s scoring prowess yielded 39 points, marking his fifth consecutive game of the tournament with over 30 points, alongside 10 rebounds and 7 assists. However, his efforts weren’t enough to secure victory for his team.
Key Performers
Germany’s offensive standout, Franz Wagner, contributed significantly with 23 points, while captain Dennis Schroder not only scored 20 points but also facilitated the game with 7 assists. Germany, who are in pursuit of their second European Championship title—a feat they last achieved as hosts in 1993—will advance to face Finland in the semifinals this Friday.
Match Highlights
The match featured a dramatic shift late in the fourth quarter when Andreas Obst’s three-pointer spearheaded a pivotal 12-0 run for Germany, elevating them to a 77-74 lead. Slovenia managed to pull ahead 86-85 after Doncic netted a three-pointer, but Schroder retaliated by sinking a crucial three of his own, despite earlier struggles, to reclaim the lead for Germany.
Doncic experienced a rollercoaster throughout the game, being assessed a technical foul early on. Despite leading Slovenia to a 51-45 advantage at halftime, he faced additional challenges with foul trouble, picking up a fourth foul early in the third period. His performance showcased both his skill and the weight of pressure, especially under the looming threat of fouling out. Meanwhile, Wagner proved to be an excellent asset for Germany, hitting 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.
Finland’s Historic Semifinal Berth
Earlier in the day, Finland secured their place in the semifinals for the first time by overcoming a spirited challenge from Georgia with a score of 93-79. Mikael Jantunen led Finland’s attack with 19 points, complemented by contributions from Lauri Markkanen, who scored 17 points and secured 6 rebounds. Finland’s deep bench was a significant factor, outscoring Georgia’s reserves 44 to 4.
Finland initially surged to a commanding 20-point lead in the third quarter, capitalizing on strong three-point shooting. In contrast, the Georgian team, buoyed by a remarkable victory over Olympic silver medalists Serbia in the previous round, managed to cut the deficit to just six points in the final moments of the match. Sandro Mamukelashvili was the standout player for Georgia, finishing with 22 points.
Historic Moment for Georgia
This quarterfinal stage marked a historic moment for Georgia as it was their first time competing as an independent nation, having previously eliminated powerhouse teams such as France and Spain from the tournament.
