EuroBasket Day 8: High Stakes, High Emotions

  • Last Updated on September 3, 2025 5:41 pm by André Lemos | Published: September 3, 2025

    Day 8 of EuroBasket served up a full platter of high-stakes basketball, where momentum swung like a pendulum and no lead felt safe. From tightly contested finishes to breakout performances, teams leaned on star power and collective grit in equal measure. Great Britain stunned Montenegro with relentless pressure and transition scoring, Portugal showed unyielding depth after losing their anchor and Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, and Turkey each flexed a mix of tactical discipline and individual brilliance to close out group play with statement victories. Across the board, turnovers, transition points and clutch execution proved decisive, reminding everyone why every possession matters when the stakes are this high.

    Great Britain 89, Montenegro 83

    Montenegro opened with different looks to get Nikola Vucevic involved, diamond sets, elbow brush screens into post touches, but GB were ready with hard doubles as soon as he put the ball on the floor. From the start, GB’s identity was clear: relentless ball pressure, forcing switches, and attacking mismatches. They crashed the offensive glass relentlessly and picked up their defensive intensity even more after dead balls. Late in the first, they even dropped into a 1-2-2 press, forcing back-to-back turnovers.

    Montenegro shot the ball brilliantly early (77% FG in the first quarter) but couldn’t withstand the pressure, eight turnovers in that span alone, which GB punished with eight fast-break points. End of one, Montenegro led narrowly 26–25.

    GB’s start to the second quarter showed their control, holding Montenegro to just one FGA over nearly two minutes. Montenegro tried to adjust by using more pick-and-pop with Vucevic facing the basket to reduce the doubles, but when he sat, their offense collapsed, just three points in almost four minutes. Without ball movement, they relied almost entirely on his gravity. Meanwhile, GB’s execution stood out, sharp ATOs, baseline out-of-bounds plays, and targeted coverage like forcing Allman left in pick-and-roll. By halftime, GB were up 48–42 with a 28–20 edge in points in the paint and a huge turnover advantage.

    The third quarter followed the same pattern: Montenegro bleeding possessions (15 turnovers by the 4-minute mark), GB running the floor, and Vucevic the only real source of resistance (10 points in the quarter). On the perimeter, Montenegro repeatedly failed to track GB’s shooters, Akwasi Yeboah came off staggers untouched, while Jelani Watson-Gayle was given clean looks as defenders ducked under (he hit 3-of-4 from deep).

    By the fourth, Montenegro had little beyond Vucevic. Allman offered just five second-half points without creation or rim pressure. GB kept finding ways, Myles Hesson (25 points) punished them out of a flare action miscommunication for an open dunk, then later hit a three off a Spanish pick-and-roll where Montenegro again broke down. Even when Montenegro briefly flipped the lead with back-to-back threes under two minutes left, GB responded, and ultimately Montenegro’s defense gave way.

    The numbers told the story: 18 turnovers conceded, Simonovic misfiring at 14% from the field when they badly needed a third scorer, and too many second chances gifted to GB’s big, physical front line. On the other side, Hesson and Yeboah combined for 48 points, GB outscored them 20–3 in transition, and they simply had more bodies to throw at Vucevic.

    Vucevic, who posted 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in his farewell tournament, did everything he could, but it wasn’t enough. Montenegro’s defensive breakdowns and lack of support left them undone, while GB celebrated their first EuroBasket win since 2013, falling short of advancing but closing their campaign on a proud note.

     

    Portugal 68, Estonia 65

    Early in the game, Portugal looked like a team trapped by its own limitations. With no real playmaking threats, they struggled badly against Estonia’s aggressive defense. Every look was hard-earned, every possession a grind, and the ball often stuck in place with little movement off it. Defensively, Portugal were also too passive early, just five fouls in the first half, allowing Estonia to run their offense with patience and composure, finding cleaner shots than Portugal could generate.

    The second half flipped the script. Neemias Queta and Miguel Queiroz began to impose themselves, sparking a Portuguese surge, only for disaster to hit when Queta picked up two technicals and was ejected. At that point, it looked like the fight would drain out of them. Estonia capitalized, reclaiming the lead with a run built on Artur Konontsuk’s shot-making.

    Instead, Portugal responded with the kind of resilience that defined their group stage. One by one, different names stepped into the void: Daniel Relvão’s interior presence, Diogo Gameiro’s poise, Travante Williams’ intensity and then Rafael Lisboa seizing the moment. Lisboa, tied the game with a deep three in the final minute, then calmly knocked down four free throws to ice it.

    What began as a one-superstar team turned into a collective. Queta’s absence for most of the second half forced Portugal to find other ways and they did. Their pressure generated turnovers (19–7 edge in points off giveaways) and late in the game, they finally turned that defense into confidence. Lisboa’s closing stretch will go down as one of the landmark moments in Portuguese basketball history, delivering the victory that sends them to the Round of 16 for the first time ever.

    Estonia, for their part, kept it close until the final buzzer, but 17 turnovers and a lack of steady playmaking in crunch time undid them. Konontsuk’s burst nearly carried them through, but Kristian Kullamäe’s halfcourt heave at the horn rimmed out, leaving Estonia and their passionate fans heartbroken.

    For Portugal, this was about more than one game. It was proof of growth, proof of depth and proof that they can win even when stripped of their NBA anchor. In those final 15 minutes, they looked like a team full of heroes, and they earned their place among Europe’s top sixteen.

     

    Lithuania 74, Sweden 71

    Lithuania pressed full court from the opening tip, but their offense sputtered badly out of the gate. Jonas Valančiūnas was used early as a dribble-handoff hub at the top, yet the ball stalled far too often and they struggled to create any advantages. They managed just 14 points in the first quarter with 8 turnovers, while Sweden moved the ball with pace and precision. Pelle Larsson in particular thrived when run off the line, attacking closeouts and making smart decisions. Sweden’s strong execution carried them to a 21–14 lead after ten minutes and they would extend it to 12 midway through the second.

    Lithuania turned back to Valančiūnas to steady themselves, pounding the glass for extra possessions and looking more to him in the post. Still, the offense remained uneven, with no three-pointers in the half and little playmaking after Normantas left injured in the opening quarter. Sweden’s patient offense kept them in front, 39–33 at the break.

    The second half opened with a different Lithuanian team, quicker ball movement, higher tempo, and their first made three sparked an 11–4 surge. With Valančiūnas anchoring inside, they briefly grabbed the lead, only for Sweden to claw back when JV rested, closing the third at 54–53.

    Sweden opened the fourth with sharp guard–guard and wing–guard ghost screens that created mismatches and space. Lithuania countered by leaning even harder on their center, Valančiūnas reasserting himself on both ends. Interestingly, the coaching staff managed his minutes on a “handball-style” offense–defense rotation late, subbing him in only for halfcourt possessions. The game came down to free throws: Sargiūnas split at the line to leave the door open, but Sweden couldn’t capitalize, their sideline out-of-bounds play resulting in a heavily contested Larsson three that missed at the buzzer.

    Lithuania’s interior dominance told the story: 42 points in the paint, 11 offensive rebounds leading to 12 second-chance points, and Valančiūnas finishing with 18 and 9. They still struggled from deep (11%), but four players reached double figures to balance the attack. Sweden, led by Larsson’s 18, executed well but were undone by poor free-throw shooting (8-for-15) and couldn’t quite convert their early control into a statement win.

    For Lithuania, it was a gritty comeback that showed both their flaws and their resilience, far from their most polished performance, but enough to carry momentum into the Round of 16.

     

    Latvia 109, Czechia 75

    Latvia wasted no time setting the tone, they wanted to run. Davis Bertans had four quick points in transition, then knocked down a three as both teams traded long-range shots in a frantic opening. Latvia hit their first four triples in as many minutes (two apiece from the Bertans brothers), surging ahead 16–9. On the other end, they put Davis Bertans on Vit Krejčí to use size and take him out of rhythm. Czechia steadied things with sharp off-ball movement and 9-of-11 shooting inside the arc, cutting into the gap while Kristaps Porziņģis rested. Still, Zagars’ entry gave Latvia a jolt, sparking consecutive threes through pure ball movement to close the first up 30–24.

    In the second quarter, Rolands Smits showcased his mobility, exploiting gaps against slower-footed centers. When Porziņģis returned, his gravity transformed the offense, whether as a scorer (including a near-logo three and strong drive) or passer (a perfectly timed backscreen cut assist from the post). Czechia kept scrapping on the glass, but Porziņģis anchoring both ends pushed Latvia ahead by double digits. At halftime it was 58–44, Latvia blending interior scoring and outside shooting in near-perfect balance.

    By the third, that balance tilted into dominance. Latvia already had 30 points in the paint midway through the quarter, then ripped off a 10–2 run that ballooned the lead beyond 20. Davis Bertans was on fire again during this stretch, and with Latvia flying up and down the floor, Czechia simply couldn’t keep pace. By late in the period, it was 81–53, the home side piling up transition buckets and assisted threes.

    The fourth was academic, Latvia’s ball movement overwhelmed Czechia, finishing with 31 assists on the night, 10 from Rihards Lomažs. They also contained Vit effectively (4-of-11 FG), while Czechia’s lone bright spot was Martin Peterka drilling threes off stagger screens (3-of-3). The visitors lacked creators and Latvia’s defensive intensity plus shot-making buried them.

    Statistically, Latvia’s inside-out balance jumped off the page: 13-of-27 from three, 53% shooting overall, and 42 points in the paint. Five players reached double figures, led by Davis Bertans (20), Kristaps Porziņģis (16), Dairis Bertans (20) and Roland Smits (16). The 109-point tally tied Latvia’s all-time EuroBasket scoring record and with the game long out of reach, the bench finished things off in comfort.

    A statement performance that reminded everyone how lethal Latvia’s mix of pace, spacing and movement can be when everything clicks.

     

    Germany 91, Finland 61

    From the opening tip Germany set the tone with intensity, jumping out 14–6 in the first four minutes by forcing turnovers and running in transition. Franz Wagner matched up with Lauri Markkanen, while Dennis Schröder and Andreas Obst chased Maxhuni to limit Finland’s primary initiator. Finland struggled early (3–12 FG), relying heavily on Lauri to push the pace downhill and draw fouls. A couple of threes brought them within two, but their second unit was the one that steadied them, turning German mistakes into seven points off turnovers in the first quarter. Still, Germany led narrowly after one despite six turnovers of their own.

    In the second, Isaac Bonga and Franz Wagner smothered Markkanen, forcing him into tough looks and limiting his touches, while Schröder and Theis built rhythm in pick-and-roll. That connection sparked an 11-point German lead midway through, even as Theis sat with foul trouble. Finland experimented with Lauri at the three to close the gap, but their defensive pressure faded, and Germany closed the half on top 50–36, dominating the paint (18 points inside) and flipping the tempo of the game.

    After halftime Bonga’s defense on Lauri again stood out, denying him post position, reading every pop-out, even picking off passes. Finland couldn’t generate alternative offense, starting 2–8 in the quarter, and though they briefly held Germany scoreless for three minutes, they never capitalized. Olivier Nkamhoua fought hardest for the hosts with activity on the glass, but Finland’s poor shot selection (5–25 from three by the end of the third) and mounting turnovers kept the gap growing. A long touchdown pass from Theis to Schröder after a made free throw summed up Finland’s lapses. By the end of the third, Germany led 69–49.

    The fourth quarter was one-way traffic. With Markkanen on the bench and Finland already out of answers, Germany stretched the margin past 30. They took Maxhuni out of the game from the start, neutralized Lauri with disciplined coverage and punished every careless turnover (22 total). Even Finland’s 24 offensive rebounds never translated into second-chance scoring.

    Franz Wagner’s 23 points in just 20 minutes, plus Schröder’s control in the pick-and-roll, underlined Germany’s balance. They won every quarter, defended at a high level, and closed group play with another emphatic win, showing how hard it is to crack their defense when they stay locked in

     

    Turkey 95, Serbia 90

    Serbia opened strong, carving up Turkey’s defense for easy looks at the rim and jumping out 9–3. Ergin Ataman burned an early timeout, and Turkey immediately responded, Sengun anchoring the offense and hot perimeter shooting (4/8 from deep) fueling a 19–11 turnaround. The first quarter closed with Serbia regrouping, but Turkey clung to a 19–18 edge behind Sengun’s 10 points.

    The second quarter was a trading of punches. Turkey kept knocking down threes, 9/16 at the break, far outpacing Serbia’s 6/16, but Serbia controlled the paint, 24–14 inside scoring, leaning on Jokic’s craft to keep the scoreboard moving. By halftime, Serbia held a slim 49–46 lead despite the shooting gap. Jokic had a steady 8/6/2, Sengun nearly matching him with a 12/8/7 line, showcasing the duel that defined the night.

    In the third, Shane Larkin kept performing at a high level and was an even harder matchup for Serbia with Avramovic sidelined after leaving the game late in the second quarter. His speed and playmaking broke Serbia’s rhythm, helping Turkey edge ahead 74–73 entering the fourth. Serbia countered by shuffling matchups, Dobric, then Nikola Jovic, to try to disrupt Larkin’s flow, but Turkey kept pace. Jokic’s blend of skill and size gave Serbia hope late, yet Sengun’s versatility, stepping out to the arc, rolling hard, and facilitating, proved decisive.

    The final minute was all about composure. Down 90–89, Sengun calmly sank two free throws to swing the lead. On the next trip, he hedged a pick-and-roll perfectly, poking the ball free to set up Larkin, who added two more at the line. With Serbia needing a three, Jokic’s attempt rimmed out, and Sengun sealed it with another pair of free throws, capping a statement win for Turkey. Serbia allowed too many offensive rebounds down the stretch. The Milutinov–Jokic pairing proved ineffective at controlling the glass, protecting the rim, and especially handling Turkey’s mobility.

    Sengun finished with a brilliant 28/13/8, outdueling Jokic (22/9/4) on the stat sheet and, more importantly, on the scoreboard. Turkey’s blistering 58% from deep and 27 assists highlighted their offensive sharpness, while Sengun’s clutch plays in the last minute delivered the signature victory of their group stage.

     

    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 3, 2025, 5:29 pm