Slovenia put together a dazzling performance on Friday in the quarterfinals of the FIBA EuroBasket basketball tournament. They defeated France in the gold medal game 88-82. 42 points from Luka Dončić, who became the first player to score 30 points by halftime ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/pdJq28QZAO — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 17, 2017 The triumph further cemented Slovenia’s tournament stronghold as they ride on their quest for gold.
By the end of the quarter, Slovenia had built an impressive lead, 29 to 11 over France. Once again, Dončić proved he’s one of a kind. That was the fourth time this tournament that he scored at least 30 points in a game! His shooting performance featured a pair of critical free throws that pushed him over 40 points and essentially capped Slovenia’s victory.
France battled through some major absences. TNT reported Tuesday that Victor Wembanyama is sidelined with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, and Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier have withdrawn as well. French guard Sylvain Francisco had 14 points, and it wasn’t nearly enough to offset Slovenia’s walrus-like scoring barrage.
As Slovenia enjoyed their fairy-tale finish to the competition, attention quickly shifted towards Georgia, who eliminated the reigning champions France with a shocking upset. Georgia got through to the quarterfinals for the first time after a convincing 80-70 victory against France. Tornike Shengelia and Kamar Baldwin, playing in front of enthusiastic Georgian supporters, led all scorers with 24 points each, spurring Georgia to victory.
In this match, Guerschon Yabusele, who previously scored an impressive 36 points against Poland during the group stage, was held to only 12 points. Zacharie Risacher, last year’s No. 1 NBA draft pick, managed just seven points, further highlighting Georgia’s defensive strength.
Giorgi Shermadini expressed his joy after the win, stating, “Unbelievable. I’m really happy, congrats to my teammates, everyone, all our fans in Georgia and here.”
Georgia’s victory over Spain earlier in the group stage demonstrated their potential and resilience, setting the stage for their success against France. As they move on to the final 32, buzz continues to surround Georgia. Fans can’t wait to follow their efforts to continue their incredible streak.
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