Quarterfinals are set and if there’s a through-line from a wild round of 16, it’s survival of the toughest. Poland, Georgia, Slovenia and Greece all punched their tickets on Sunday, but none of them did it cleanly and that’s exactly what makes knockout basketball so compelling. From Luka Dončić putting up another entry for the EuroBasket record books, to Georgia’s fairytale march past France, to Giannis bulldozing his way through Israel, every game came with its own cocktail of drama, grit and momentum swings.

Poland’s grind-it-out win over Bosnia & Herzegovina set the tone early, ugly stretches, momentum bursts and a captain in Mateusz Ponitka who did all the dirty work. Georgia stunned France with poise beyond their years, Slovenia nearly collapsed after a Luka masterclass opening and Greece needed every ounce of Giannis dominance to cover for shaky shooting. The margins were thin, the adjustments mattered and one key injury or hot hand swung entire games. In the end, four very different paths all led to the same place: the quarterfinals.

 

Poland 80, Bosnia & Herzegovina 72

Poland punched their ticket to the quarterfinals with a gritty 80-72 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, a game that tested their patience, discipline and resilience.

Bosnia struck first with a 13-2 burst, powered by Jusuf Nurkić’s presence inside and John Roberson’s shot-making. They shared the ball beautifully in the first quarter, piling up seven assists while Poland looked flat and disorganized. Mateusz Ponitka tried to spark life with a couple of steals, but Poland trailed 23-14 after 10 minutes.

Adjustments slowly shifted the tide. Poland tightened their pick-and-roll defense by pushing handlers to the weak hand, while on offense they found flow with veer actions, turning ball screens into quick pin-downs. Still, the scoring load rested heavily on Jordan Loyd and Ponitka, who combined for 28 of Poland’s 40 points in the first half. Bosnia, meanwhile, leaned on Roberson’s creation whenever Nurkić sat, his floaters and threes keeping them up 44-40 at the break.

The third quarter turned into a battle of runs. Nurkić went repeatedly to work on the left block, but Poland’s faster tempo and sharper rotations helped them claw back. Ponitka’s relentless rim pressure fueled Poland’s surge, scoring 7 of 9 points in a key run that gave them their first real momentum. By the end of the period, they had flipped the game, 62-61.

Bosnia briefly regained the lead with offensive rebounds early in the fourth, but everything changed when Roberson left with a hamstring injury. Without their guard creator, Bosnia’s offense stagnated, and even Nurkić couldn’t carry them alone. Poland doubled down on smart defensive gambles, closing short against Bosnia’s weaker shooters and daring them to hesitate. The hesitation came, and with it, turnovers.

In crunch time, Ponitka and Loyd put the game away. The captain a true “Polish Army Knife,” finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and endless hustle. Loyd shouldered the scoring load, hitting tough shots late, including the midrange dagger that iced it with under a minute to go. His 28 points gave Poland the steady scoring hand they had lacked earlier.

Bosnia will rue missed chances, just 55% at the free throw line (11/20) and no double-digit scorers beyond Nurkić (20) and Roberson (19). Poland, on the other hand, showed the grit that has made them dangerous in knockout play, owning the glass with 17 offensive rebounds and turning extra possessions into 16 second-chance points.

It wasn’t perfect, but Poland found a way through, leaning on their stars, rebounding and defensive adjustments to outlast a dangerous Bosnia side.

 

Georgia 80, France 70

Georgia’s magical EuroBasket run added another chapter in Riga as they stunned France to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in history. It wasn’t about overwhelming firepower, but about poise, patience and making the right plays when the game hung in the balance.

From the opening minutes, Georgia set the tone defensively by packing the paint and forcing France into difficult halfcourt possessions. The French length and athleticism were neutralized by Georgia’s ball movement and discipline, as they consistently worked for clean looks. Yabusele had an early burst with 10 points in the first quarter, but his scoring dried up, and France struggled to find rhythm outside of transition and offensive rebounds. Georgia’s 5-of-10 three-point shooting in the first half proved critical in offsetting France’s 11–2 transition edge, and they carried a 38–37 lead into halftime with Goga Bitadze still scoreless.

The second half became a grind. Georgia deliberately looked to get Bitadze going, but neither side found easy baskets. With under four minutes left, Elie Okobo’s drive on Bitadze tied the game at 68, setting up a tense finish. Out of a timeout, Georgia executed perfectly, springing Tornike Shengelia for a clutch three that gave them back the lead. Moments later, Bitadze erased a French attempt at the rim with a massive block and Kamar Baldwin followed by drawing a foul on a three-point attempt. His free throws pushed the margin to six with just over a minute left. Bitadze then punctuated the night with a thunderous dunk to seal an unforgettable 80–70 victory.

The stat line told the story of Georgia’s composure: they controlled the tempo, led for nearly 32 minutes and knocked down 55.6% of their threes (10-of-18). France, by contrast, misfired all night from deep at just 16.7% (6-of-36). Baldwin and Shengelia carried the offensive load with 24 points each, while Georgia’s collective execution ensured they stayed steady even when France rallied late.

For France, transition bursts and second-chance points kept them in it, but without consistency in the halfcourt and no answers for Georgia’s shotmaking under pressure, their tournament came to a sudden end.

Georgia, already giant-killers after beating Spain on opening day, now add France to their list. In only their sixth EuroBasket appearance, they’ve reached the last eight and they did it with toughness, unity and a fearless approach. The chants of “Sakartvelo!” from the stands told the rest of the story: this team believes and the dream lives on against Finland in the quarterfinals.

Slovenia 84, Italy 77

Slovenia are through to the quarterfinals, but it was far from routine. What looked like an early rout turned into a grind, before Luka Dončić once again put the team on his back.

Slovenia came out flying after Italy’s first two possessions ended in turnovers. Dončić scored 22 in the opening quarter, ripping apart switches and forcing Italy into sloppy play (six turnovers in the frame). With their switching scheme leaving him favorable matchups almost every trip, it was simply the Luka show. Slovenia led 29-11 after ten minutes.

Pozzecco’s side finally showed their bite in the second quarter, ratcheting up full-court pressure and “weaking” most pick-and-rolls while hard-hedging Dončić. Fontecchio fueled the response with 11 points in the quarter in a variety of roles, from spot-ups to on-ball creation. Italy cut it to 10 at the break, 50-40.

Slovenia regained control in the third. They worked Dončić into the post off cross-screens and when he sat, Prepelic delivered two big threes. Alen Omić’s energy was massive, grabbing three straight offensive rebounds that turned into five points in a key stretch. By the end of the third, the lead was back to 16 (72-56).

Italy wouldn’t go away. Niang and Gallinari spearheaded a furious rally to open the fourth, getting downhill, drawing fouls, and living at the line. They combined for 13 of Italy’s 16 points in just over five minutes, cutting the gap to one. Slovenia, meanwhile, sputtered, turnovers, rushed shots and a 3-of-12 mark from the field in the quarter.

In the final minutes, Slovenia went small with Muric at the five after Krampelj fouled out, trying to survive on switching defense. Niang fouled out with 1:40 left, and despite Gallo pushing until the end, Dončić iced it at the free-throw line.

Dončić finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, five points shy of his EuroBasket record from 2022, cementing one of the all-time knockout game performances. Prepelic added 11, Omić chipped in with hustle plays and Slovenia owned the glass with 15 offensive boards. Italy’s Fontecchio led them with 22, while Niang and Gallinari both hit double figures in the rally.

Slovenia bent, but with Luka in this form, they did not break.

Greece 84, Israel 79

Greece booked their spot in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought win over Israel, leaning heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance inside to overcome shaky perimeter shooting.

Israel opened with Itay Segev in the lineup to match Giannis physically, but it made little difference. From the start Greece sent wave after wave of rim pressure, while defensively they collapsed hard on Deni Avdija, daring Israel’s supporting cast to hit shots. Kostas Papanikolaou set the tone early with physical defense on Avdija, and Giannis powered his way to 21 first-half points. By contrast, Israel’s only consistent bright spot in the opening quarter was Tomer Ginat, who found success attacking Mitoglou. Still, Greece’s transition game was rolling (11 fast-break points in the first) and they led 28-22 after 10 minutes.

Carrington’s offense from the bench and a short stint in a 2-3 matchup zone helped Israel stay connected in the second, but their late double-teams on Giannis came far too late. He kept bullying his way to deep seals and easy finishes. Greece shot just 44% from the free-throw line in the half, which kept the margin at 50-41.

The third quarter turned scrappy, with both teams piling up turnovers (10 combined). Israel briefly cut the gap to two (60-58), but a quick burst from the Greek bench, Sloukas, Samodurov and Kostas Antetokounmpo, restored an 8-point cushion heading into the final period.

Greece then started the fourth with three offensive rebounds in two minutes, keeping Israel at arm’s length. Israel’s traps and late-game pressure forced some miscues, but they never fully committed to fouling despite Greece’s struggles at the line. That hesitation proved costly: an offensive rebound and putback in the final minute sealed it, pushing the lead back to eight.

Giannis finished with 37 points on 18-of-23 shooting and 10 rebounds, utterly unstoppable around the rim. Greece shot just 16% from deep and 50% at the line, but their 45–30 rebounding edge (18 offensive boards) and 58 points in the paint outweighed those issues. Giannis’s counterpart for Israel was Avdija, who fought to 22 points, with Ginat and Sorkin chipping in 15 apiece.

Israel had their chances but never found an answer for Giannis, who carried Greece into a quarterfinal clash with Lithuania.

 

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!

Turkey 85, Sweden 79

Sweden came into this Round of 16 clash with clarity and confidence, executing their offense with discipline in the first half. They attacked the rim, shared the ball and found good looks, while also limiting Alperen Sengun’s playmaking opportunities by crowding the paint. Cedi Osman carried Turkey early with 11 points in under 9 minutes, but foul trouble kept him on the bench. Sweden’s deliberate approach, led by Simon Birgander’s interior presence and Pelle Larsson’s steady guard play, earned them a 42–37 halftime lead.

Turkey came out of the locker room with urgency, but their offense was initially rushed and stagnant. The shift came when they cranked up the defensive pressure, forcing Sweden into turnovers and disrupting their rhythm. A key tactical adjustment, using Ercan Osmani as a passer to feed the post, helped free Sengun from Sweden’s traps. That opened the door for a 14-0 surge that flipped the game, capped by an Osmani corner three that put Turkey in front. By the end of the third, Sengun had fully grown into the role of offensive hub, controlling the glass and creating second-chance opportunities.

The fourth quarter was a battle. Sweden’s cutting and ball movement kept producing easy looks, Hakanson and Larsson hit timely shots to tie the game multiple times. Birgander, even while managing foul trouble, was immense with blocks, rebounds and effort plays. But Sengun answered every challenge, tipping in misses, drawing attention in the post and even delivering a late block that turned into a transition score. With Shane Larkin steady in the closing possessions adding key free throws, Turkey finally held off Sweden’s push.

Sengun was the difference, finishing with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in 35 minutes, showing both endurance and poise. Turkey’s rebounding edge (45–33, including 18 offensive boards) and 16 second-chance points were decisive against a Swedish team that shared the ball beautifully (22 assists) but couldn’t overcome foul trouble and lapses under pressure.

Sweden left the tournament with their style on full display, five players in double figures, constant movement and a fearless approach, but it was Turkey’s interior strength and Sengun’s takeover that pushed them back into the EuroBasket Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2009.

Germany 85, Portugal 58

Portugal came out fearless, opening on a 7–2 run as Neemias Queta stepped out to drain a three and the team pushed the pace in transition. Germany’s plan was clear: stretch the floor with Daniel Theis to pull Queta out of the paint. But with both teams starting ice cold from deep (1-for-10 apiece), the game quickly became a grind.

Portugal looked the sharper side early, stringing together a 12–4 run through stagger actions and disciplined defense, while Germany’s wings were too much of a mismatch for the smaller Portuguese perimeter. Queta anchored things inside and by halftime Germany was stuck at just 31 points, shooting 1-for-17 from three. Portugal’s second unit carried their weight as well, outscoring Germany’s bench 17–5 by the end of the third quarter.

Germany tried to crank up the pressure with high hedges in pick-and-roll coverage, but Portugal’s guards consistently found Queta on the roll or via lob. It wasn’t until the fourth that the tide turned. Maodo Lo finally broke Germany’s drought with back-to-back threes, sparking a run Portugal couldn’t answer. Fatigue and lack of shot creation showed for the underdogs, as they shot just 3-for-17 in the final quarter and committed a rash of turnovers.

Germany, still cold from deep overall (10-for-36), leaned on their size, defense and late shot-making. Lo’s threes opened the floodgates, Franz Wagner brought steady all-around impact, as the bench finally came alive with 25 points late in the second half after being invisible for three quarters.

Queta’s 18 points and 11 rebounds highlighted Portugal’s fight and their defensive switching ability kept them in the game until late. But Germany’s depth, physicality and ability to finally string together outside shots proved decisive, as the reigning world champions turned a scare into a comfortable win to reach their third straight EuroBasket Quarterfinal.

Lithuania 88, Latvia 79

The Baltic derby delivered the intensity everyone expected, but Lithuania were sharper from the opening tip and never trailed on their way to the Quarter-Finals. Both teams came out firing, Lithuania hit their first three threes, Latvia knocked down two of their first three, but Lithuania’s defensive scheme on Kristaps Porziņģis set the tone. By switching everything onto him, they disrupted his rhythm early and with Jonas Valančiūnas starting the game on the bench, Lithuania kept their coverages mobile. When rotations broke down, Porziņģis did find looks, but overall Latvia were pushed into late-clock situations and poor two-point shooting (2-for-8 in the first quarter).

On the other end, Lithuania leaned on Arnas Velička to fill Rokas Jokubaitis’ role, and he delivered with rim pressure, playmaking, and composure. Deividas Sirvydis brought energy defensively and timely shooting, helping Lithuania hold their edge while Latvia opened the second quarter with a 6-0 burst. Still, Latvia’s offense never flowed the way it usually does, their trademark off-ball movement was absent, largely due to Lithuania’s physical defense.

Valančiūnas was used in short, targeted stretches, bringing power inside when Lithuania needed it. By the end of the third, he had only nine minutes but provided a momentum play with an and-one at the shot clock buzzer that pushed the gap back into double digits. Latvia, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Porziņģis, who carried their scoring load but often stood alone in terms of energy and efficiency.

The fourth quarter brought heavy pressure. Lithuania went 0-for-5 from deep, while Latvia cranked up a full-court 2-2-1 zone press before switching to intense half-court man-to-man defense to force mistakes. The hosts clawed back within seven with three minutes left, but lapses, including a turnover immediately after a drawn-up sideline play, undercut their push. Lithuania’s discipline inside proved decisive, with 40 points in the paint compared to Latvia’s 28, while Velička and Ažuolas Tubelis made big late buckets to close it out.

Porziņģis’ 34 points and 19 rebounds gave hope to Latvia, but Lithuania’s balance and defensive edge carried them through. Velička’s 21 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds made him the game’s quiet star, seamlessly stepping into Jokubaitis’ shoes and guiding Lithuania back to the EuroBasket Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2015.

 

Finland 92, Serbia 86

Finland delivered the shock of the Round of 16 by outlasting Serbia, and they did it their way, fast, fearless and firing from deep. The Susijengi opened with six threes in the first quarter, using the mobility of Lauri Markkanen and Mikael Jantunen to pull Serbia’s frontcourt into space. Serbia switched nearly everything, but those switches only created mismatches Finland was happy to hunt.

The second quarter swung the other way. Finland’s defense slipped, their shot selection leaned too heavily on threes, and they went scoreless for stretches. Serbia’s size with Nikola Milutinov and Nikola Jokić began to tell, racking up paint points. Finland struggled most in the minutes without Little, when their lack of a true playmaking guard showed. A Jokić technical briefly gave Finland a spark, and with turnovers feeding their transition game, Markkanen began to take over, already up to 14 points by halftime despite Serbia’s edge inside.

Serbia’s adjustments out of the break put the ball more often in Nikola Jović’s hands, and he made them pay with perimeter shot-making. But when Jokić picked up his third foul early, Finland smelled opportunity. They pressed, ran, and threw bodies at Jokić to force him away from his comfort zones. Sasu Salin found his rhythm from three and the Finns leaned into a simple formula: defend hard, shoot threes, foul Jokić if necessary. Jokić spent plenty of time at the free-throw line, though he missed several, keeping alive the idea of fouling him if necessary.

The fourth quarter brought both drama and resilience. Markkanen took a knock to his knee and wasn’t at full capacity, forcing others to step forward. Miro Muuriinen sparked Finland with energy, and Elias Valtonen, who Serbia had stashed Jokić on defensively, turned that matchup into gold. Exploiting Jokić’s slow closeouts, Valtonen came up huge in crunch time, attacking off the dribble and knocking down two big threes along with a pair of layups.

While Serbia relied almost exclusively on Jokić (33 points) and Jović (20), their late-game execution faltered. Instead of riding Jokić inside, possessions drifted to secondary creators. Marko Gudurić couldn’t deliver and without Bogdan Bogdanović, Serbia lacked a perimeter closer.

Finland, meanwhile, leaned on their depth and hustle, 20 offensive rebounds, transition pressure, and just enough timely shot-making. Markkanen’s 29 points set the tone, but it was Valtonen’s clutch buckets and Finland’s collective commitment to make Jokić work alone that sealed one of EuroBasket’s biggest upsets in years.

 

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!