Finland pulled off one of many largest worldwide upsets lately, shocking Serbia on Saturday in a EuroBasket elimination recreation, writes Edvinas Jablonskis of BasketNews . Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen led the best way for the Finnish staff with 29 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists and three steals within the 92-86 victory.
Lauri Markkanen feedback on Finland’s large win
“Unreal,” Markkanen stated. “Nice efficiency by the staff. We would have liked each single certainly one of them tonight — all people within the stands, the employees, the gamers. Massive credit score to them. We’re not achieved but, however we’re gonna get pleasure from this. Clearly, that’s a heck of a staff we simply beat, and now we transfer ahead.”
Led by perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and with six different present and former NBA gamers on its roster, Serbia was thought-about among the many favorites for the EuroBasket title when the match started. Nevertheless, its prospects took a significant hit when Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a ruptured hamstring muscle final week that compelled him out of the competitors.
Serbia cruised to victories in its first 4 video games behind dominant performances from Jokic. Nevertheless, they dropped to second in Group A after Wednesday’s loss to Turkey and didn’t reply nicely within the knockout spherical.
Nikola Jokic was dominant within the loss
Jokic delivered 33 factors and eight rebounds on Saturday, however Serbia didn’t supply a lot different scoring punch outdoors of Nikola Jovic‘s 20 factors. Regardless of his many profession accomplishments, Jokic has by no means medaled at EuroBasket.
Up subsequent for Finland would be the winner of Sunday’s recreation between France and Georgia.
Lithuania additionally superior to the quarterfinals on Saturday with an 88-79 victory over Latvia, becoming a member of Turkey and Germany, who received earlier within the day.
With Rokas Jokubaitis sidelined by a critical knee damage, Arnas Velicka starred for the Lithuanians with 21 factors, 12 assists and 5 rebounds, whereas Azoulas Tubelis contributed 18 factors and 12 rebounds and Deividas Sirvydis added 18 factors.
Latvia was eradicated regardless of a stellar efficiency from Hawks large man Kristaps Porzingis, who completed with 34 factors and 19 rebounds earlier than fouling out late within the recreation. Porzingis advised reporters that he has largely recovered from the sickness that sapped his power final season with Boston, in line with BasketNews.
“It’s true that there have been nonetheless some days once I wasn’t feeling good, and I’m nonetheless working my method again to having my fuel tank full,” he stated. “However because the match went on, I began to really feel actually good bodily, and I knew I might push my physique, I might push myself to go. At the moment was an instance of that. It’s simply up from now. Total, an important summer time with my Latvian teammates, being again house, having fun with time with household. And yeah, I’d have favored to complete on a extra lovely word.”
Lithuania’s quarterfinals opponent would be the winner of Sunday’s Greece-Israel matchup.
