By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Montenegro prevailed 87-81 over Sweden, and despite losing by an average of 25 points in the first three games of Group B, now has a very good chance of qualifying for the Eurobasket round of 16.
Nikola Vucevic, with 23 points on 9/15 FG, 15 rebounds, and four assists, had his best game yet in the tournament at the perfect time.
On the other side, Miami’s Pelle Larsson also delivered with 28 points on 10/20 FG, but it was not enough.
On the contrary, Vucevic was not only much more efficient but made arguably the biggest shot of the game, making the score 83-79 with 33 seconds left and giving his team a two-possession cushion.
Bosko Radovic, who earlier in the tournament said that his team played the worst possible basketball, was happy this time: “I believe that we were the better team except the third quarter, when they scored 31 points, but the important thing is the win and the fact that we are alive in the qualification race”.
The two teams are now tied at 1-3, with Montenegro holding the tie-breaker and closing group play against Great Britain, arguably the weakest team in the pool, if not the tournament.
Sweden, on the other hand, needs to beat Lithuania in the last round and hope for the tie-breaker in the point difference, or a win of Great Britain over Montenegro.
Photo credit: FIBA