EuroBasket Day 6: History Made Amid Injuries and Dramatic Wins

  • Last Updated on September 1, 2025 6:21 pm by André Lemos | Published: September 1, 2025

    EuroBasket Day 6 served up the kind of chaos and clarity that only international basketball can provide. Records were broken, Knockout stage hopes were kept alive and the physical toll on rosters became impossible to ignore. Between clutch finishes, historic scoring outputs and mounting injury concerns, the tournament is starting to feel like a pressure cooker where every possession carries consequences and every missed shot or turnover can ripple through a team’s entire path to the Round of 16.

    What’s striking about the latest slate of games is how style and strategy collided with circumstance. Teams leaned on pace, precision, and high-level execution, yet injuries and personnel limitations increasingly shaped outcomes. You could see it in the way a single player’s health, or lack thereof, shifted rotations, altered defensive schemes and forced others into roles they weren’t fully prepared for. EuroBasket is no longer just about talent; it’s about resilience, depth and timing and Day 6 offered a crystal-clear reminder of just how fragile and thrilling this tournament has become.

    Montenegro 87, Sweden 81

    Montenegro set the tone early with engaged defense, forcing four Sweden turnovers in the opening quarter. Nikola Vucevic came ready, scoring 7 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in the first 10 minutes, while Montenegro as a team hit the offensive glass hard with 4 boards. Still, Sweden stayed close, sparking their defense late in the quarter and running in transition for 7 fast break points. Montenegro led 18-15 after one.

    Montenegro started the second quarter strong, even with Vucevic resting, opening on a 6-2 run. Sweden leaned on pace and pick and roll offense to stay in it but on the opposite side Montenegro kept punishing their drop coverage. Vladimir Mihailovic fueled an 11-4 run to close the half after Sweden briefly took the lead. Sweden’s 5-of-11 shooting from deep kept them within striking distance despite struggles inside. Montenegro went into halftime up 40-34.

    Sweden opened the third with a 10-2 run, all created by Pelle Larsson either scoring or assisting. Vucevic continued to be effective in single coverage against Simon Birgander, but Sweden’s defense collapsed on him when others guarded, forcing him into playmaking where he was less effective. Sweden also flipped the pressure by attacking the rim, drawing 9 free throws in the quarter after just 7 in the entire first half. Their aggression paid off, and they led 65-64 heading into the fourth.

    Montenegro responded with a 6-0 run to start the final period, but then went nearly five minutes without a score. Sweden took advantage with energy plays from Melwin Pantzar Njie and Larsson orchestrating nearly every possession. Just as Montenegro seemed to be fading, Kyle Allman erupted, after starting 0-for-9, he poured in 10 straight points to give his side the lead back. Vucevic then came up with a massive offensive rebound and putback to make it a two-possession game with 33 seconds left. Sweden committed a costly turnover on the next play, sealing their fate.

    Montenegro’s 23-16 closing quarter highlighted their execution in the clutch. Vucevic was immense with 23 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks, showing why he’s still the anchor of this team. Allman overcame a rough shooting night to deliver when it mattered, finishing with 7 assists alongside his clutch scoring burst. Mihailovic and Igor Drobnjak added steady contributions.

    For Sweden, Pelle Larsson was outstanding, putting up 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists as the clear engine of their attack, but six missed free throws (15-for-21 overall) and late turnovers proved too costly.

    Montenegro, finally on the board in Tampere, keep their Round of 16 hopes alive, while Sweden’s path becomes much more difficult after this narrow defeat.

     

    Turkey 84, Estonia 64

    Turkey came out sharp on both ends, setting the tone with a highly efficient opening quarter. They scored 25 points on 3-of-3 shooting inside, 3-of-7 from deep, and most notably went to the line 14 times in the first 10 minutes. Estonia, on the other hand, struggled to generate clean looks and were limited to just 13 points. After one, Turkey led 25-13.

    By halftime, Turkey’s physical edge was clear. They were punishing Estonia on the glass with a 26-11 rebounding advantage and continued to share the ball at a high level, racking up 12 assists. Smart off-ball cuts out of Alperen Sengun post-ups kept Estonia scrambling, as Sengun’s passing out of doubles opened up clean finishes. The Houston Rockets big man went into the break with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists as Turkey built a 46-27 lead. Estonia shot just 22% from the field in the half, salvaging some efficiency with a few makes from three.

    Estonia finally found better rhythm after halftime, attacking with more physicality while still managing to limit fouls on the defensive end. They won the third quarter 22-19, capped by a well-drawn end-of-quarter set that gave them an open three. But Turkey had answers, using inverted pick-and-rolls to get Sengun attacking mismatches and leaning on Adem Bona’s defensive presence around the rim to protect their cushion. Estonia briefly flirted with momentum early in the fourth by trying a 2-3 zone and knocking down a couple of threes, but it wasn’t enough. Turkey calmly closed out the game 84-64.

    The numbers reflected Turkey’s dominance: 28–16 points in the paint, a 41–26 rebounding edge, and a 20–10 advantage in points off turnovers. They shot efficiently at 54% inside the arc and 42% from three. Sengun once again starred with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, making EuroBasket history as the first player in the last 30 years to record three straight games of 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists. Bona added a major defensive spark, while Turkey’s collective ball movement (25 assists) showcased their depth.

    For Estonia, Kristian Kullamäe (16 points) and Siim-Sander Vene Hermet (12 points) provided scoring, but overall the offense never found consistency, shooting just 11-of-30 inside the arc against Turkey’s size.

    Already through to the Round of 16, Turkey extended their win streak to four, setting up a decisive group-stage finale against Serbia with first place on the line.

     

    Germany 120, Great Britain 57

    Great Britain came out with a clear plan, forcing switches and attacking Germany’s guards inside with some early success. Germany, meanwhile, looked slow to start, lacking urgency until their press (alternating between 2-2-1 and man after made FTs) disrupted GB’s rhythm. The first few minutes produced some entertaining offense both ways, but Germany locked in defensively late in the quarter, closing on a 13–1 run. Franz Wagner’s playmaking (6 first-quarter assists) fueled the surge as Germany shot 9-for-12 inside. Still, GB’s energy on the glass (7 ORebs) kept them in touch, trailing 32–19 after one.

    From there, the gulf in quality and depth became obvious. Germany’s ball pressure and disciplined team defense, strong on the gaps but without unnecessary overhelp, set up transition chances. On offense, they flowed smoothly, even using Gortat screens to carve out driving lanes. Great Britain mixed in a 2-3 zone on SLOBs, but Germany’s movement and spacing solved it. By halftime the Germans had doubled up GB, 58–31, shooting 61% from the field and already showing complete control.

    The third quarter was a rout. Germany pushed the pace at every chance but played with maturity, never forcing bad looks. The result: a 30–9 frame where GB managed just 4-of-16 shooting. By the end of three, it was 88–40, and the contest was long decided. Germany finished the job in style, crossing the 120-point mark in a 120–57 final.

    The stat sheet underscored their dominance: 72% from two, 52% from three, a 41–26 rebounding advantage (GB’s 15 offensive boards the only category they edged). Tristan da Silva led with 25, while Wagner added 18 and 10 assists in just 18 minutes. For Great Britain, Myles Hesson and Patrick Whelan managed 11 apiece.

    Historically, this was a landmark win: Germany’s highest EuroBasket scoring output since 1987, their largest margin in 66 years (+63), and the first time any team has scored 100+ in each of their first four games. For Great Britain, it marked their heaviest defeat in more than six decades.

     

    Latvia 78, Portugal 62

    Latvia came out firing, opening on a 7–0 run, while Portugal looked to establish Travante in the post against smaller Latvian guards. But Portugal’s static spacing made it easy for Latvia to load up defensively. On the other end, Latvia’s player and ball movement gave the Portuguese trouble, and Kristaps Porzingis stretched the floor early with three first-quarter triples. Portugal did fight back late, with Lisboa scoring four straight to trim the deficit to two, 23–21 after one.

    Out of the huddle, Latvia attacked mismatches inside with Rolands Smits and kept Portugal off balance with Porzingis’ pick-and-pop game. Portugal tried switching, but that only left Porzingis attacking smaller defenders from the top. A 15–3 run broke the game open, and Latvia’s ball sharing (14 assists in the first half) fueled a dominant 27–7 second quarter. Portugal, meanwhile, made just one field goal in the period and shot 30% from the field by halftime. Latvia led 50–28 at the break, hitting 11 threes at a blistering 52%.

    Portugal showed resilience in the second half. Lisboa scored 8 points in the third, and Gameiro gave them energy in the fourth with ball pressure, five points, and two assists. They even cut the deficit to 12, but never closer, as Latvia cooled off offensively and managed only 28 second-half points. Still, the cushion from their huge second quarter was more than enough to secure the 78–62 win.

    Without Rodions Kurucs and now with Andrejs Grazulis ruled out for the tournament, the potential injuries to Arturs Zagars and Kristers Zoriks would be massive blows for this Latvian team if the worst case is confirmed. The group has been growing as the tournament goes on, as expected and seemed primed to peak during the knockout stages if things clicked. But it’s hard for any team to withstand so many significant setbacks. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: they are slowly starting to look more like themselves and when that happens, this is a team that can compete with anyone.

    Porzingis paced Latvia with 21 points and 9 rebounds in 25 minutes, while three others joined him in double figures. Latvia finished with 20 assists and a perfect 16-for-16 from the line despite cooling to 41% overall. For Portugal, the positives were their 17 offensive rebounds and second-chance scoring, but poor shooting (34% FG, 28% 3PT, 58% FT) undermined their effort. Lisboa (17 points) and Neemias Queta (16 points, 7 rebounds) carried the offense, but it wasn’t enough against Latvia’s decisive first-half punch.

     

    Lithuania 81, Finland 78

    Lithuania secured a hard-fought victory over Finland, claiming an 81–78 win and booking their place in the Round of 16, though the game came at a cost with Rokas Jokubaitis suffering a knee injury that could jeopardize his tournament. The hosts started strong with a 9–2 run, but Lithuania’s defensive strategy quickly began to shape the contest. Smaller guards Normantas and Sargiunas were physical on Lauri Markkanen, making it difficult for him to get going, while Valanciunas, coming off the bench for the first time since EuroBasket 2015, rotated in whenever Lauri left the floor, anchoring Lithuania’s post play.

    The first quarter was fast-paced, with both teams exchanging blows, yet Lithuania ended it slightly ahead at 21–20. In the second, the Lithuanians executed their pick-and-roll sets efficiently, particularly through Jokubaitis, and began to exploit interior mismatches. Lauri continued to struggle under tight defensive attention, finishing the half with only seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, while Jantunen kept Finland afloat with 13 first-half points. Lithuania outscored Finland 25–15 in the second quarter, building a 45–36 halftime lead, highlighted by 28 points in the paint and six second-chance points.

    The third quarter saw mini-runs from both sides and some tactical adjustments. Finland pressed full-court but continued to allow Jokubaitis downhill opportunities, which he used to great effect, tallying 13 points and five assists in the half. The quarter was gritty and more physical, ending 12–12, with Lithuania maintaining a 57–48 edge.

    Jokubaitis left with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter due to injury, forcing Lithuania to rely more on Valanciunas and Blazevic, though their offensive rhythm stalled whenever neither was on the floor. Finland went 5-of-9 from three in the final quarter to cut the deficit to three, but a dagger corner three from Sedekerskis with 27 seconds left iced the game.

    Defensively, Lithuania’s scheme was decisive. They held Finland to 46 points in the paint, collected 17 offensive rebounds and forced Finland into key misses despite Markkanen posting 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Jokubaitis contributed 16 points and nine assists before exiting, while Blazevic added 14 points and eight rebounds. For Finland, Jantunen finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.

     

    Serbia 82, Czechia 60

    Serbia dominated Czechia from the outset, immediately exposing their transition defense. Early fastbreak points piled up, giving Serbia a quick lead, and despite some early turnovers and hesitant decision-making from Avramovic, the team’s size and depth quickly established control. By the end of the first quarter, Serbia led 27–5, already capitalizing on Czechia’s inability to protect the rim or contain transition opportunities.

    Czechia attempted a response in the second quarter, opening with a 7–2 run that briefly cut the deficit to 29–12. Serbia’s execution dipped momentarily with Micic still finding his rhythm and Jokic on the bench, but once he settled in, the team surged again. Serbia’s dominance inside the paint and ability to convert turnovers into points kept them firmly ahead, building a 45–23 halftime lead despite a poor 13% showing from three-point range. Rebounding (25–15) and assists (17–9) underscored their control, while 30 points in the paint compared to just eight for Czechia highlighted the mismatch in size and frontcourt execution.

    The third quarter saw Czechia regroup and execute with better discipline, winning the frame 18–16 and cutting the gap to 61–43. Serbia’s lineup with Jovic, Jokic, and Milutinov continued to cause matchup nightmares, with Milutinov delivering an efficient 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, seven rebounds, and two steals.

    In the fourth, Serbia treated the game partly as a preparation exercise, giving Micic more reps as he worked back into shape after injury. A technical foul on Petr Krivanek after fouling a 3 point shot led to a four-point play for Serbia, extending their lead to 73–50. Czechia tried to mount a late surge, with Vit Krejci scoring consecutively, but Serbia’s composure, disciplined defense, and overwhelming paint dominance closed the game at 82–60. Serbia committed just nine fouls versus Czechia’s 23 and converted 23 fastbreak points, demonstrating both defensive discipline and opportunistic transition play.

    This win kept Serbia undefeated at 4–0, secured their passage to the Round of 16, and set up a pivotal matchup against Türkiye for the top spot in Group A. Serbia’s tactical approach, leveraging interior dominance, selective perimeter shooting, and disciplined defense, proved decisive against an undersized and outmatched Czech side.

     

    This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro, Diogo Valente and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

    September 1, 2025, 5:24 pm