The biggest continental tournament in European basketball, EuroBasket started on Wednesday and first day was full of drama where top NBA stars helped their respective teams to victory. Germany, led by Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder, made a winning start, as did Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic, who made the double-double and crushed Estonia.
Also Read: Which NBA Players Will Participate in the Euro Basket 2025?
Here’s the quick highlights from the big matches on Day 1 of the EuroBasket 2025:
The opening match of the 2025 EuroBasket, in Group B, wasn’t particularly impressive. And, for that matter, it wasn’t even that balanced. Great Britain managed to hold its own in the opening minutes. But it didn’t take long for Lithuania to open up a lead, punishing the opposing team’s defense. In the end, Lithuanian fans, who packed Tampere Deck Arena in Finland, were fortunate. Jonas Valanciunas , the Denver Nuggets’ new signing for the season, scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. With 57 total rebounds, Lithuania also broke a competition record!
In a close-fought, low-scoring Group A clash, the Portuguese prevailed, prevailing throughout the entire 40 minutes, despite the tight match. Much of Portugal’s success was due to the dominant performance of Neemias Queta. The Boston Celtics center completely dominated the paint, scoring 23 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks, with 11 made shots on 15 attempts. At the end of the match, the player became emotional and recalled his path to success in the world’s best basketball league and with the national team.
Also in Group B, favorite Germany, the reigning world champion, showed its true colors in its debut. Facing Nikola Vucevic ‘s Montenegrin team , the Germans surged in the second half and secured their first victory. The first half was evenly matched, with Germany’s attacks prevailing, ending 46-43. Then, Schroder and Andreas Obst put the game away in the third quarter.
The Sacramento Kings’ new point guard had 21 points and four assists, while 3-point specialist Obst finished with 18 points and 83% shooting from the perimeter. Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner finished as the team’s top scorer with 22 points and eight rebounds. For Montenegro, Vucevic had an efficient double-double of 23 points and ten rebounds, making ten of his 13 shots.
In the day’s biggest upset, Group A’s home team, Latvia, fell to Turkey at Arena Riga. The disciplined Turks relied on excellent performances from their star players. Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun had 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Cedi Osman, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers and currently with Panathinaikos in Greece, scored 20 points. Kenan Sipahi (19 points) and Shane Larkin (15 points and six rebounds) also stood out.
On the Latvian side, however, the big leaders had below-par performances. Kristaps Porzingis scored ten points and committed six turnovers, making only three of his 12 shots. The Atlanta Hawks center was singled out for a beautiful dunk from point guard Sehmus Hazer. Davis Bertans, meanwhile, scored just six points and converted one of his six three-pointers.
In the most thrilling game of the opening round so far, Finland prevailed on home soil at Tampere Deck Arena. A brilliant Lauri Markkanen led his team with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The Utah Jazz star displayed his full arsenal, working well in the paint and on the perimeter, and also forcing several trips to the free throw line (he finished with 14 free throws taken).
The Swedes’ biggest expectations were for Pelle Larsson. The Heat’s young prospect, however, had a quiet performance. He managed ten points before being ejected for his fifth foul. With 28 points, the leading scorer was point guard Ludwig Hakanson of Club Joventut Badalona, which also has Ricky Rubio on its roster.
Bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics and heavy favorite to win the EuroBasket, Nikola Jokic’s Serbia didn’t disappoint in their debut. They secured their lead with a thrashing of Estonia. The Nuggets star even flirted with a triple-double, despite playing just 23 minutes.
Jokic scored 11 points, a modest number by his standards, but he made three of four shots. He also grabbed ten rebounds and dished out seven assists to his teammates. The Heat’s Nikola Jovic led the way in scoring with 18 points, along with six assists and four rebounds. Another big name on the team, Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Los Angeles Clippers, scored 11 points and had seven assists.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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