And oh, boy, did Luka Doncic turn in a special performance! Most recently, he helped guide Slovenia to a 106-96 victory over Israel in a winner-advancer Group D showdown. The Salaš Trambus match, played this past Wednesday, was Slovenia’s third straight victory in this year’s tournament. Doncic, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 37 points, leading the way for his team’s upset victory. He secured 11 rebounds, dished out nine assists, and recorded three steals, although he had seven turnovers during the contest.
After Greece’s impressive victory over Georgia, the Greeks roared into round of 16 extremely well prepared to defend their title. Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to impress, with a dazzling 25-point, 14-rebound performance. Tyler Dorsey exploded for 22 points, more than doubling Greece’s total. On the other end, Kostas Sloukas put the game out of reach with a critical layup and two free throws in the final minutes. This win is as much a sign of Greece’s spirit and quality as they advance in the tournament.
At the same time, France was putting a hurt on Iceland, taking them to school in a 114-74 blowout. Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s number one NBA draft pick, in his offense’s zip and dourness, led this French squad with 15 points. He knocked down three of his five attempts from deep. He snatched seven rebounds, firmly establishing him as a rising star in international basketball.
In what turned out to be a thrilling game, Jusuf Nurkic’s Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Georgia 84-76. Nurkic finished with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double in the tournament.
Israel’s Deni Avdija had an outstanding performance, leading his team with 34 points and nine rebounds. His performances this year almost weren’t enough to earn him a victory over Slovenia, showcasing how tough this year’s tournament would be.
Just like FC Barcelona’s women team and Spain in general, the recent fortunes have gone a bit awry. Jaime Pradilla was the scoring leader with 14 points, and Mario Saint-Supery contributed 13 points. Time after time, they weren’t able to match the intensity their opponents brought to the field.
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