Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

2025 EuroBasket: Luka Doncic Drops 42-Point Outburst to Guide Slovenia into Quarterfinals

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Slovenian star Luka Doncic continued his great form in the 2025 EuroBasket and on Sunday, he produced a match-winning performance for his national team. The Lakers guard helped Slovenia to beat Italy in the crucial round of 16 encounter to book the place in the quarterfinals.

The point guard led his national team with 42 points on 11-for-19 on field goals, ten rebounds and three steals. Doncic was dealing with a leg injury suffered in the first minute of the game. Slovenia edged out Italy 84-77 in the crucial R16 encounter on Sunday in Latvia.

Imagine waking up knowing you'll have to guard Luka Doncic.

Luka has 22 in the first quarter.#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/3rfC6HlQ4r
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025

Also Read: 2025 FIBA EuroBasket: Lauri Markkanen-led Finland Upset Tournament Favorites Serbia to Reach Quarterfinals

Luka Doncic Sustains Leg Injury but Ends Up with His 2nd Highest Scoring in Competition

Luka Doncic collided with Italian point guard Alessandro Pajola about 30 seconds into the game and clearly felt some injury, albeit minor, to his leg. The Slovenian received prompt treatment on the bench and even went to the locker room after the first quarter, but downplayed the situation after the game.

“Yes, it hurts. Now I have to get some treatment, but I’ll be fine,” the point guard said in an interview with the Slovenian press.

During the first half, Doncic was dominating Italy as he scored 30 points in 16 minutes. He also grabbed five rebounds and had two steals. Slovenia outscored Italy 29-11 in the first quarter but Italy bounced back to reduce the deficit to 10 points at break.

Meanwhile, the 42-point performance was Luka Doncic’s second-highest in EuroBasket history, behind only the 47-point outburst against France in 2022. The highest individual performance in EuroBasket history is 63 points from Belgian Eddy Terrance, in a 90-48 victory over Albania way back in 1957.

The point guard also entered the top 50 of all-time scorers in EuroBasket with reaching 515 points. With three potential matches in lineup if his team makes to the final, Doncic can update his position in the tally.

Generational bucket getter. 🪣

Luka Doncic has entered the TOP 50 of all-time #EuroBasket scorers. pic.twitter.com/cgyFRxSls2
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025

Luka is averaging 34 points (leader), 8.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.2 steals (leader). Now, all the eyes on the quarterfinal round where Slovenia will lock horns against Germany, one of the favorites for the title on Wednesday.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.