EuroBasket Day 9: The Good, The Bad and The Luka

  • Last Updated on September 5, 2025 6:41 am by André Lemos | Published: September 5, 2025

    The group stage is officially in the books, and it went out with a bang. On the final day of Groups C and D, we saw Luka Dončić do Luka Dončić things, jaw-dropping stepbacks, no-look passes, the works, but the bigger story might be what unfolded around him. Greece quietly handled business against the defending champs, signaling they’re more than just a supporting cast in this tournament. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina reminded us what unselfish, flowing team basketball looks like, and France? Well, France reminded everyone why they’re still the team to beat, imposing their will on both ends of the floor. In short, it was a day of clarity: individual brilliance, tactical mastery and a few statement games that might reshape the knockout picture.

     

    Bosnia & Herzegovina 84, Georgia 76

    Bosnia & Herzegovina came out sharp, drilling three of their first four from deep accounting for 9 out of their first 10 points in the game, leaning on Nurkić as a pick-and-pop hub. That early efficiency built a 20–15 lead after the first quarter. Georgia, meanwhile, ran nearly everything through Toko Shengelia, but outside of the occasional Spain pick-and-roll they struggled to find balance, while lapses in focus, like a wasted transition three late in the quarter and an unnecessary take foul, undercut their start.

    Bosnia’s offensive rhythm carried into the second. A slick ATO sequence (DHO into Spain action) produced a layup and sparked a 9–2 run, stretching the lead to double digits. Georgia’s over-helping and slow rotations were repeatedly punished, as Bosnia’s ball movement piled up 14 first-half assists and shooting numbers of 52% from the field and 44% from three. Mamukelashvili had only four attempts in the half, while Shengelia forced tough looks. At the break, Bosnia & Herzegovina led 47–35.

    Georgia responded with urgency out of halftime, tightening the defense to generate four steals and six turnovers in the third quarter. That energy fueled their best stretch, cutting the deficit all the way down to two (67–65) heading into the fourth, largely by attacking switches and posting up Shengelia against guards.

    The fourth quarter, though, belonged to Bosnia & Herzegovina. Baldwin briefly pushed Georgia ahead with a quick burst, but Nurkić reasserted himself inside with scoring and rebounding, while Roberson and Lazić buried timely threes to flip the momentum back. Georgia’s offense again bogged down into static isolations and poor spacing, and a Roberson jumper out of a baseline set effectively sealed the win.

    Bosnia’s balance was decisive: 26 assists, 21 bench points to Georgia’s four, and a 14-7 edge in made threes. Nurkić posted 15 and 12, Roberson added 15 with four triples, and the supporting cast all chipped in. Georgia’s trio of Mamukelashvili (20), Baldwin (18), and Bitadze (16) combined for 53, but Shengelia never found rhythm (2/11 FG). Bosnia’s win not only showcased execution and depth, it secured their first trip to the EuroBasket knockout stage since 1993.

     

    France 114, Iceland 74

    France came out with complete authority, blitzing Iceland 36–9 in the first quarter and never letting the game drift from their control. Their pressure defense forced turnovers, they ran off every miss and by the time the first frame closed it already felt decided.

    Iceland did manage to find some offense in the second quarter, but France kept scoring with ease, stretching the margin to 66–34 by halftime. The pattern held after the break, France’s size and athleticism allowed them to dominate the paint, punish Iceland on the glass, and generate easy buckets from live-ball turnovers.

    By the end of the third, the gap had only grown wider. The only moment Iceland had to savor came in the final period, when they outscored France 28–24, giving their fans in Katowice something to cheer in an otherwise one-sided affair.

    France’s control was total. They owned the interior, overwhelmed Iceland with waves of bench production, and turned defense into offense all night long. Eight different players hit double figures, with Zaccharie Risacher standing out in limited minutes.

    For France, it was less about the scoreline than about sharpening their identity, relentless defense, unselfish offense and depth that few teams can match. For Iceland, it was the end of a winless campaign, but not without pride, their effort and tempo won the admiration of the crowd, even against an opponent operating at full throttle.

     

    Slovenia 106, Israel 96

    Israel opened by putting Zoosman on Dončić, denying catches and doubling him in pick-and-rolls, while Avdija drove their offense with repeated attacks on the paint (11 of Israel’s 22 first-quarter points). Slovenia answered by running every chance they got, piling up nine fast-break points in the opening frame. They adjusted smartly when Luka was doubled, moving the ball and even using him as a screener to roll into post-ups. Offensive rebounding (5 OReb, 8 second-chance points) gave Slovenia an edge and they led 26–22 after one.

    In the second, Israel tried to disrupt rhythm with a Box-and-1 on Luka, but Slovenia’s response was sharp. Dončić knocked down his first three after four misses and Slovenia strung together a 6–1 run out of timeout. Their defense tightened, forcing misses and holding Israel scoreless for long stretches. Luka was already up to 24/6/6 at the half, with Slovenia hitting 12/15 inside the arc and their bench chipping in 14 points. Israel’s 13 offensive rebounds were their lifeline, led by Avdija’s 19 first-half points, but they trailed 56–43.

    Israel threw a curveball to start the third, giving Palatin more minutes than he had been getting in the tournament and tasking him with hounding Luka, while also knocking down two threes. They also flattened their pick-and-roll coverage, keeping the big at the level. Luka’s foul trouble (two quick ones, reaching four with 5:38 left) changed the quarter, but Slovenia leaned on Nikolić, who scored eight and stabilized them. Even with Luka on the bench late, Slovenia won those minutes 8–4 and entered the fourth up 79–65.

    The game tightened in the fourth when Slovenia missed their first three triples and Israel ripped off a 13–4 run cutting the margin to five with Luka still out. As soon as he checked back in, he orchestrated everything: scoring, assisting and controlling tempo. Israel tried to pressure full-court and trap in the half-court, even targeting Luka to draw a fifth foul, but he held firm and baited Avdija into tough shots. A quick 5–0 burst after a timeout restored control, and Luka’s dagger in the final minutes closed it out.

    Slovenia finished with 28 assists and five players in double figures, but the story was Luka: 37 points, 11 boards, 9 assists, one dime shy of making EuroBasket history with a second triple-double. Israel’s fight was anchored by Avdija’s 34 and 9, plus a relentless 21 offensive rebounds, but their inefficiency around the rim and at the line kept them from pulling the upset. Slovenia’s third straight win secured third place in Group D, while Israel settled for fourth.

     

    Italy 89, Cyprus 54

    Italy closed out the group stage in complete control, never allowing the hosts a real chance to make it a contest. After Cyprus scored the game’s opening basket, Italy immediately ripped off a 19–2 run and set the tone with a 24–6 first quarter. From there, the Azzurri managed the game, never loosening their grip.

    The second quarter was the only stretch where Cyprus could stabilize, holding Italy to 16 points, but it was more about Italy easing up than any real momentum shift. Once the teams came out of halftime, Italy reasserted themselves, using their ball movement and depth to push the lead further, before finishing with another decisive fourth quarter.

    Italy’s performance wasn’t built on hot shooting, they hit just 29% from three, but on balance, execution, and effort. They owned the glass (48–30), punished Cyprus with second-chance points, and shared the ball selflessly (26 assists to just 6 turnovers). Cyprus, by contrast, struggled to create much offensively, finishing with only 11 assists all game.

    It was another display of Italy’s collective identity. Even without lights-out shooting, their defense, rebounding, and playmaking carried them to a fourth straight win. For Cyprus, it was the end of a historic first EuroBasket appearance, one where the results didn’t go their way but the energy and commitment left a positive mark on their home crowd.

    Italy now head to Riga with confidence, looking like a team that has found its rhythm at the right time.

     

    Greece 90, Spain 86

    From the start, Greece turned Spain’s defensive plan on its head. Spain collapsed two and even three defenders onto Giannis in the paint, but that left the perimeter wide open. Greece punished it immediately, 8-for-10 from deep in the first quarter, with Tyler Dorsey hitting four threes on his way to 14 points. Spain, meanwhile, barely looked at the arc (only three attempts in the quarter) and couldn’t generate stops, trailing 30–18 after one.

    The second quarter was a story of runs. López-Arostegui provided an important spark off the bench, helping Spain trim the deficit. But when Greece’s starters returned, the barrage resumed. Giannis shifted into playmaker mode, picking apart traps with six first-half assists, and Greece closed the half shooting 10-for-15 from deep to lead 50–36. Spain’s missed free throws (7-for-14 in the half) added to their frustration.

    Spain regrouped after halftime with urgency, tightening up defensively and winning the third quarter 28–18. By midway through the fourth, the comeback was complete, tying it at 71, then briefly taking leads at 73–72 and 82–81. But each time Greece steadied. Giannis delivered in crunch time, scoring key baskets and controlling the glass, while Dorsey added timely shooting. Spain’s free throw woes haunted them in the final minute, Juancho Hernangómez missed three at the line with his team down four, sealing their fate.

    Greece finished at 48% from deep and 53% overall, with Giannis on the edge of a triple-double (25 points, 14 boards, 9 assists) and Dorsey supplying 22 on 6-of-9 from three. Spain stayed alive with elite ball security (only 7 turnovers) but couldn’t overcome their 21-for-37 night at the stripe.

    The result knocked out the reigning champions and sent Greece through as Group C winners. It was a performance built on a blistering start, unselfish ball movement and their stars rising when it mattered most.

     

    Belgium 70, Poland 69

    Belgium closed their EuroBasket campaign on a high, beathing the hosts Poland in a nail-biter decided by Emmanuel Lecomte’s poise in the final seconds.

    Poland had the better start, taking the first quarter 17–16, but Belgium responded in the second. Their defense tightened up, their ball movement created rhythm and a 23–16 period gave them a 39–33 lead at the break.

    The hosts found their footing after halftime, using a 25–19 third quarter to erase the gap and tie the game at 58 heading into the final frame. From there, it turned into a grind: neither side able to get separation, both trading stops and missed chances.

    With just seconds left, it was Lecomte who made the difference. His mid-range game had been on all night, and with 3 seconds to play he calmly rose up and hit the decisive jumper to seal it. He finished with 19 points, giving Belgium the offensive punch they needed.

    The Lions’ defense and Poland’s cold perimeter shooting proved just as crucial. Belgium held their opponents to 38% from the field and just 4-of-25 from deep. Jordan Loyd never found his rhythm, finishing with only 7 points, while Mateusz Ponitka once again carried the load (16 points, 9 boards, 5 assists). Poland’s advantage inside (36–14 points in the paint) wasn’t enough to overcome the shooting disparity, as Belgium hit 11 threes at over 40%.

    For Belgium, it was a night to show pride and spirit even with elimination already confirmed. For Poland, it was a stumble that didn’t change their path, they still advance to the Round of 16 as the No. 2 seed from Group D, but with some lingering questions after this flat performance.

     

    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 5, 2025, 6:41 am