By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic did not need to carry the scoring load as Serbia defeated Iceland 102-73 in Belgrade to improve to 5-2 in Group J of the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers.
The Denver Nuggets superstar scored only six points in 23 minutes but influenced the game in virtually every other area, adding 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals for a performance index rating of 21, the second-highest on the Serbian team.
With Jokic creating opportunities for his teammates, Nikola Tanaskovic stepped forward with the best performance of his national team career. The returning Partizan forward scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range, while also grabbing five rebounds.
Nikola Jovic followed with 21 points and Marko Guduric added 17, while Nemanja Dangubic and Nikola Milutinov contributed 10 apiece. Serbia finished with 45 rebounds and 29 assists against only seven turnovers.
Iceland remained competitive for three quarters and entered the final period trailing 70-61, but Serbia broke the game open with a decisive run and quickly extended the margin to 20 points. Elvar Fridriksson led Iceland with 19 points, Martin Hermannsson scored 18 and Tryggvi Hlinason added 14 in his first meeting with Jokic.
Serbia will next face Italy in Pesaro on Monday, while Iceland dropped to 4-3.
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