Two semifinals, two very different stories. Finland’s dream run finally met a ceiling against a German team peaking at the right time, while Turkey’s unbeaten streak rolled on thanks to role-player eruption and a defensive masterclass against Giannis and Greece.

Germany 98, Finland 86

Finland, playing in their first-ever EuroBasket semifinal, came out energized. They leaned on smart baseline out-of-bounds actions and tried to run whenever possible, while Olivier Nkamhoua gave them an early scoring lift. Germany looked flat at the start, Franz Wagner missed some easy ones inside, but quickly found a rhythm by turning Finnish mistakes into transition chances. Schroder and Wagner took over late in the first, combining to punish poor closeouts and poor shot selection, sparking a 21–10 run that gave Germany a 30–26 edge after 10 minutes.

The second quarter swung sharply. Germany’s defense locked in, fronting the post and sending help from the weakside to force Finland into static halfcourt possessions. The result was a five-minute stretch without a point for Finland, while Schroder relentlessly got into the paint and Wagner found his touch. By halftime, Schroder had 10 and 8 assists, Wagner 23, and Germany led 61–47 after shooting 50% from three. The contrast was stark: Germany scored 12 points off seven Finnish turnovers, while Finland generated none in return.

Finland refused to fold. With Lauri Markkanen quiet and often static off the ball, the supporting cast, Nkamhoua, Valtonen, Maxhuni and Muurinen, stepped up in the third quarter. A 13–4 run off the bench slashed the lead back into single digits, capped by Nkamhoua’s confident finishing. Germany’s offense bogged down when Schroder sat with foul trouble, and suddenly it was 81–73 heading into the fourth.

But that was as close as Finland would get. Germany’s defense dictated the opening minutes of the final frame, holding Finland to just two points in five minutes. Theis steadied things inside despite battling foul trouble, and when Obst and da Silva buried back-to-back threes, the margin ballooned again. From there, Schroder closed it out with his mix of scoring and playmaking, ensuring there would be no upset.

The numbers reflected Germany’s control: a 15–6 edge in points off turnovers, a 26-of-31 mark from the free-throw line and only a two offensive rebound difference, an aspect of the game they needed to manage. Schroder was brilliant, finishing with 26 points and 12 assists, the most assists in a EuroBasket semifinal in the last 30 years, while Wagner added 22. Nkamhoua kept Finland afloat with 21 on perfect shooting for much of the night, but Markkanen’s 16 on 6-of-17 left the Wolfpack without the star punch they needed.

Germany march into their first EuroBasket final since 2005, their team proving to bee elite once again and their stars delivering in key moments. For Finland, the dream run continues in the third-place game, still with a chance to claim their first medal at this level.

Turkey 94, Greece 68

From the opening tip, Turkey’s game plan was clear: keep Giannis away from the paint defensively and punish Greece with spacing. They opened with pick-and-pop action, pulling Giannis out and forcing miscommunications. Ercan Osmani made every slip hurt, hitting his first four threes on the way to 11 points in the first five minutes. By the end of the quarter, he was a perfect 4-for-4 from deep and had 18 points in his first 13 minutes, setting the tone for a Turkish offense that built a 26–16 lead after one.

Greece had a brief spark from their bench, with Kostas Antetokounmpo giving energy and rim protection and Tyler Dorsey knocking down threes to keep them afloat early. But Turkey’s defense was suffocating. Sengun and Osman shaded toward Giannis on every drive, forcing him into contested finishes and heavy traffic, while Cedi Osman and Sehmus Hazer pressured the passing lanes. By halftime, Greece had already committed 12 turnovers and trailed 50–31, with Giannis stuck at 2-for-7 from the field.

In the second half, Ergin Ataman’s team never loosened its grip. Thanasis Antetokounmpo came in to guard Osmani, and Giannis shifted onto Sengun, but Turkey kept executing. Sengun finally found his rhythm inside, scoring over Giannis on the first possession of the third quarter and continuing to facilitate from the elbows, keeping Greece from ever mounting a sustained run.

The stat sheet told the story of Turkey’s balance and efficiency: 26 assists on 35 made field goals, just 9 offensive rebounds allowed and another night of elite shooting (45.5% from three). Osmani finished with a career night: 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 6-of-8 from three, without a single free throw attempt. Cedi Osman added 17 points and a game-high +32 plus/minus, while Sengun posted 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists despite a slow start on the scoring department.

For Greece, turnovers were fatal. Their 22 giveaways are the most in a EuroBasket semifinal in three decades, and they simply never found an offensive flow. Giannis battled for 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, but Turkey’s collective defense crowded him into frustration. Outside of Dorsey’s early threes, Greece got little consistency from their perimeter.

This was Turkey at their best: physical defense, fluid ball movement and role players rising in big moments. With Sengun’s gravity creating lanes, Osmani spacing the floor, and Cedi setting the two-way tone, they look every bit the contender Ataman promised they would be. Now, after 24 years, Turkey is back in the EuroBasket final, still unbeaten, with a chance at their first-ever gold.

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!

Finland punched a ticket to uncharted territory and Germany showed why they’re the World champs, setting up a semi-final that feels both fresh and inevitable. The Finns didn’t just beat Georgia, they dismantled them with depth, pace and an avalanche of threes that made foul trouble and frustration the headlines on the other side. Germany, meanwhile, got a full dose of Luka Magic, 39 points worth of it and still found a way to survive, leaning on balance, composure and a well-timed surge to stay unbeaten. Put it together and you’ve got one team making history, another clinging to its crown and a collision course that promises to be as much about identity as it is about talent.

Finland 93, Georgia 79

Finland made history in Riga, defeating Georgia 93–79 to secure their first-ever spot in a EuroBasket Semi-Final.

The start suited Georgia, who slowed the tempo and looked to Toko Shengelia on the block. Finland initially found it difficult to get rhythm, but once their second unit entered, the game tilted. A burst of stops and transition play, capped by Sasu Salin’s shooting, sparked a 16–3 run to close the opening quarter, giving Finland a 28–15 edge.

From that moment, Finland dictated the pace. Their cutting game and quick decision-making kept Georgia chasing, while Mikael Jantunen provided an extra scoring lift. By halftime the gap had grown to 17, with Finland putting up 57 points on remarkable efficiency (60% FG, 10-of-15 from three). Their bench had already contributed 30 points, while Georgia were hampered by foul trouble, Goga Bitadze picking up his third and frustration boiling over into technical fouls.

The third quarter brought a response. Sanadze fueled Georgia with quick scores, Giorgi Shermadini offered steadiness inside and their renewed effort on the offensive glass cut into the margin. They held Finland to 14 points in the frame and trailed just 71–62 after 30 minutes.

Early in the fourth, Sandro Mamukelashvili’s dunk trimmed the deficit to six, giving Georgia a real chance. But a deep three from Miro Little calmed Finland, and shortly after, Bitadze was ejected following an unsportsmanlike foul. Jantunen and Valtonen then delivered back-to-back threes, restoring full control. Shengelia too exited in the final minutes after his own frustration boiled over, ending Georgia’s hopes.

Finland’s balance and depth carried the night: Jantunen led with 19 points and 5 rebounds, Markkanen added 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Salin’s spark off the bench pushed their total to 44 bench points.

For Georgia, Mamukelashvili (22), Sanadze (19) and Shengelia (18) kept them competitive, but Baldwin was held to just 2 points and Bitadze’s foul trouble proved costly.

Finland finished with 53% shooting, a lethal 55% from three, and 26 assists, a performance that showcased their unselfish, uptempo style. For a team that has been steadily climbing the EuroBasket ladder over the past decade, this breakthrough Semi-Final berth felt like the natural next step.

Germany 99, Slovenia 91

Germany’s unbeaten run survived its toughest test yet, but it came at the cost of surviving a Luka Doncic masterpiece. Slovenia came out sharper, crashing the glass for five offensive rebounds in the opening minutes and finding easy looks off adjusted pick-and-roll angles. Doncic controlled the pace with early transition assists and by the time Klemen Prepelic splashed a deep three near the end of the half, Slovenia had a deserved 51–45 lead. They were the more physical side and doubled up Germany in paint points during the first quarter.

Germany’s offense sputtered early (1-of-7 from three in the 1Q) but Franz Wagner kept them within reach with timely buckets. Schroder added pace and creation, though Slovenia’s bench production (12–3 in the first half) gave them an extra boost. Doncic’s foul trouble hung over everything, he picked up his third before halftime and a fourth just minutes into the third quarter, but even with those limitations he pushed Slovenia ahead, scoring at will and drawing constant attention.

The turning point came late in the third. Tristan da Silva buried a heave from beyond midcourt to trim the gap to four and Germany finally found rhythm. Obst’s three gave them their first lead early in the fourth and from there the champions leaned on inside touches for Theis and steady playmaking from Lo and Schroder. Slovenia’s response was always Doncic, he buried a late three to briefly reclaim the lead, but the supporting cast faded. By the time Omic fouled out and an exhausted Doncic missed a layup, Germany had built their biggest cushion of the night.

The whistles loomed large. Slovenia’s camp left frustrated as Germany attempted 37 free throws to their 25 and the game’s flow often felt disjointed. Still, Germany’s ability to value possessions (just six turnovers) and push in transition (16–6 fast break points) made the difference.

Doncic finished with 39 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, carrying a huge burden but without enough consistent help, Prepelic was held to 13 on poor shooting. For Germany, Wagner had 23, Schroder 20 and 7 assists and Theis added 15 with nine boards. Obst’s shot-making, plus Maodo Lo and Tristan da Silva’s spark off the bench were crucial in sealing the win.

Germany advance to the semi-finals, where they’ll face Finland. For all their quality, one lingering concern will be how easily Slovenia controlled the offensive glass early an area future opponents will certainly target.

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!