By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Narrowly holding on down the stretch of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers contest, Slovenia picked up the win, 84-81, over Sweden Sunday, while Croatia is out of the second phase of the qualifiers.
With former Dallas Mavericks teammate Dirk Nowitzki watching him in Stockholm’s Hovet, Luka Doncic went for 31 points behind 10/20 field goals, ten rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while registering five turnovers. Goran Dragic added 20 points in possibly that last game of his international career.
Swedish fans chanting “overrated” to Luka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki joining in #FIBAWCpic.twitter.com/UYQSPTyMr6
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 3, 2022
Ludvig Hakanson combined 24 points with nine rebounds for Sweden. The losing side advanced to the next round after Croatia’s home loss to Finland.
In another tight game to finish Group C, a late three-pointer sank by Lauri Markkanen combined with Ivica Zubac missing from the free-throw line earned Finland the 81-79 victory against Croatia in Rijeka’s Centar Zamet.
Markkanen banked in the game-winner adding to his team-high 19 points and fouled out. But Zubac missed the chance to force overtime ending up sharing the game-high 21 points with fellow NBA player Bojan Bogdanovic. After this result, Croatia is out of the World Cup.
Bursting out, Dennis Schroder put up 38 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. Germany rallied to the win, 93-83, against Poland. A. J. Slaughter had 32 points for the visitors at Bremen’s OVB Arena but Poland was knocked out pushing both Israel and Estonia into the next round. At Tel Aviv’s Shlomo Group Arena, Israel wrapped up Group D prevailing, 96-77, over Estonia.
Playing for the first time under Ergin Ataman at the international level, Shane Larkin dominated with 22 points, six assists, and three rebounds as Turkey rolled Great Britain, 85-71, wrapping up Group B and effectively improving to 2-2 in Group I. For the hosts, Myles Hesson posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double and also shared five assists.
In Group A, Belgium was up 6-3 opposite Serbia before a power outage at Cair Sports Center interrupted the action and eventually forced a postponement to tomorrow, Monday. Elsewhere, Mavericks sharpshooter Davis Bertans connected 5/8 from beyond the arc in a 23-point effort powering Latvia to the 93-60 victory versus Slovakia at Levice’s Sport Hall.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Sunday results and standings:
Group A
Slovakia – Latvia 60-93
Serbia – Belgium PPD
1. y-Latvia 11 (5-1)
2. y-Belgium 8 (3-2)
3. y-Serbia 8 (3-2)
4. x-Slovakia 6 (0-6)
Group B
Great Britain – Turkey 71-85
1. y-Greece 7 (3-1)
2. y-Turkey 6 (2-2)
3. y-Great Britain 5 (1-3)
4. x-Belarus (withdrawn)
Group C
Sweden – Slovenia 81-84
Croatia – Finland 79-81
1. y-Finland 11 (5-1)
2. y-Slovenia 10 (4-2)
3. y-Sweden 8 (2-4)
4. x-Croatia 7 (1-5)
Group D
Germany – Poland 93-83
Israel – Estonia 96-77
1. y-Germany 11 (5-1)
2. y-Israel 9 (3-3)
3. y-Estonia 8 (2-4)
4. x-Poland 8 (2-4)
Group E
1. y-France 9 (4-1)
2. y-Montenegro 8 (3-2)
3. y-Hungary 8 (3-2)
4. x-Portugal 5 (0-5)
Group F
1. y-Lithuania 10 (5-0)
2. Czech Republic 7 (2-3)
3. Bosnia-Herzegovina 7 (2-3)
4. Bulgaria 6 (1-4)
Group G
1. y-Spain 8 (4-0)
2. y-Georgia 8 (3-2)
3. y-Ukraine 6 (2-2)
4. x-North Macedonia 5 (0-5)
Group H
1. y-Iceland 7 (3-1)
2. y-Italy 5 (2-1)
3. y-Netherlands 3 (0-3)
4. x-Russia (withdrawn)
y-clinched a berth in the next round
x-eliminated
The 24 qualified teams carrying results from the first round are split into four new groups.
2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Second round:
Group I
1. Greece 7 (3-1)
2. Latvia 7 (3-1)
3. Turkey 6 (2-2)
4. Great Britain 5 (1-3)
5. Belgium 4 (1-2)
6. Serbia 4 (1-2)
Group J
1. Finland 7 (3-1)
2. Germany 7 (3-1)
3. Israel 6 (2-2)
4. Slovenia 6 (2-2)
5. Estonia 5 (1-3)
6. Sweden 5 (1-3)
Group K
1. Montenegro 6 (2-2)
2. France 5 (2-1)
3. Hungary 4 (1-2)
4. Lithuania
5. 2nd of Group F
6. 3rd of Group F
Group L
1. Iceland 7 (3-1)
2. Italy 5 (2-1)
3. Spain 4 (2-0)
4. Georgia 4 (1-2)
5. Ukraine 4 (1-2)
6. Netherlands 3 (0-3)
-The top three teams of each group clinch a berth in the World Cup
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL