Turkiye Dominates Latvia in EuroBasket Opener as Hazer Dunks on Porzingis

EuroBasket Highlights

EuroBasket commenced on Wednesday, showcasing a series of matches across Europe. In their first game, Latvia faced a tough challenge at home, suffering a defeat against Turkiye with a final score of 93-73.

Latvia’s Struggles

The Latvian team struggled, and star player Kristaps Porzingis had a particularly rough outing, only managing to hit 3 out of 12 attempts from the field. His performance included a highlight dunk by Sehmus Hazer, who plays for Anadolu Efes and previously showcased his skills during the 2021 NBA Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hazer’s dunk has already captured moments from the tournament, showcasing his athletic prowess.

Turkiye’s Strong Performance

Turkiye’s victory was underpinned by a strong team performance, led by NBA veteran Cedi Osman, who scored 20 points while playing for Panathinaikos in Greece. Alperen Sengun also contributed significantly with an all-around stat line of 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, making a mark in the tournament as a formidable competitor. Additionally, Shane Larkin, a former player for several NBA teams including the Mavericks and Celtics, added 15 points to the scoreboard.

Key Match Insights

The key difference in the match was efficiency, with Turkiye shooting an impressive 60% from the field compared to Latvia’s 38.7%. This performance highlights Turkiye’s potential as a strong contender in the ongoing EuroBasket tournament.