Finland pulled off one of many largest worldwide upsets lately, shocking Serbia on Saturday in a EuroBasket elimination sport, writes Edvinas Jablonskis of BasketNews . Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen led the best way for the Finnish group with 29 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists and three steals within the 92-86 victory.
Lauri Markkanen feedback on Finland’s huge win
“Unreal,” Markkanen mentioned. “Nice efficiency by the group. We would have liked each single one in all them tonight — all people within the stands, the workers, the gamers. Huge credit score to them. We’re not accomplished but, however we’re gonna take pleasure in this. Clearly, that’s a heck of a group 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 of among the many favorites for the EuroBasket title when the event started. Nonetheless, its prospects took a significant hit when Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a ruptured hamstring muscle final week that pressured him out of the competitors.
Serbia cruised to victories in its first 4 video games behind dominant performances from Jokic. Nonetheless, they dropped to second in Group A after Wednesday’s loss to Turkey and didn’t reply effectively within the knockout spherical.
Nikola Jokic was dominant within the loss
Jokic delivered 33 factors and eight rebounds on Saturday, however Serbia didn’t provide a lot different scoring punch exterior 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 sport 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 harm, 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 huge man Kristaps Porzingis, who completed with 34 factors and 19 rebounds earlier than fouling out late within the sport. Porzingis instructed reporters that he has principally recovered from the sickness that sapped his power final season with Boston, in response to BasketNews.
“It’s true that there have been nonetheless some days once I wasn’t feeling excellent, and I’m nonetheless working my approach again to having my fuel tank full,” he mentioned. “However because the event went on, I began to really feel actually good bodily, and I knew I may push my physique, I may push myself to go. Right now was an instance of that. It’s simply up from now. Total, an amazing summer season with my Latvian teammates, being again residence, having fun with time with household. And yeah, I’d have favored to complete on a extra stunning word.”
Lithuania’s quarterfinals opponent would be the winner of Sunday’s Greece-Israel matchup.
