COLOGNE, Germany — France appeared to have discovered one thing that could delay Luka Doncic’s domination late in the first half of Wednesday’s Eurobasket game for the Slovenian national team.
Elbow to head.
But Doncic didn’t even have blood dripping from his hair cuts or seams at halftime in Slovenia’s 88-82 victory over France.
Doncic scored a national team Eurobasket record 47 goals to help Slovenia finish the group stage of the tournament with a record of 4-1 and secure the top seed from the highly competitive Group B. He tallied 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Slovenia, the 2017 EuroBasket champions, will begin the knockout round in Berlin on Saturday with a Round of 16 matchup against Group A’s fourth-placed qualifiers. I won’t be playing against Serbia (Nikola Jokic), a medal contender. ) to the semi-finals, or Greece (with Giannis Antetokounmpo) to the medal round at the earliest.
The reason for this is Doncic, who is battered but still bold.
“He’s our wonder boy,” said guard Zoran Dragic.
Throughout the first half of Wednesday, Doncic seemed rhythmic and dynamic, pumping bucket after bucket, every third three times. A 36-point, 10-rebound beatdown against previously undefeated hosts Germany.
The 23-year-old made the Lanxess Arena crowd gasp in unison with a one-legged 3-point floater from the corner of NBA defensive heavyweight Rudy Gobert.
And internally, from teammate Vlatko Cancar.
“When I saw it,” said the Denver Nuggets forward.
On the second night of the back-to-back game, Doncic played the first 19 minutes without rest, but with 38 seconds remaining, he leaped for a loose ball and smashed his head out of the arm of French forward Vincent Poirier.
The Mavericks superstar quickly collapsed onto the court, curled up in pain holding his head in his arms.
While authorities reviewed him for unsportsmanlike conduct, he walked across the court and lay down near the Slovenian basket before play resumed.
After the trainer used a towel to clean the blood from his head, Doncic walked into the locker room.
About 15 minutes later, concerns were heightened when Doncic did not return to the court with Slovenia for the warm-up of the second half.
Slovenian forward Ed Muric said: “I was afraid of how he would continue.
already disturbed this week right wrist pain He said in an interview in Slovenia that it interfered with his shooting rhythm.Lunch break on a trip to Berlin.
But he didn’t seem worried about injury or fatigue on the second night of the riveting finish of the match.
After France used a late run to erase Slovenia’s double-digit lead and equalize at 82 with about two minutes remaining, veteran guard Goran Dragic regained Slovenia’s advantage with a steal and score at 1:20. secured the rebound. On France’s ensuing shooting attempt, Cancale softened the win with a jumper in the final minute.
“It’s not easy,” Dragic said. “But at the same time, if you want to win gold or medals, you have to sacrifice all your possessions.”
Some background on what made Doncic’s performance particularly memorable and meaningful:
- FIBA games are eight minutes shorter than NBA games, but Doncic has scored 47 or more points only twice in his five years with the Mavericks. Career High 51 on Feb. 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers Feb 17 49 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
- Doncic had his highest-scoring EuroBasket performance in the last 65 years, but was without his go-to pick-and-roll partner, Mike Toby, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.
- He and Gobert have developed a bitter rivalry in the NBA, each drawing on technical fouls on Wednesday. Mavericks beat Utah Jazz in first round of playoffs.
- slovenia is coming Buzzer Beater Block Breaking France In last summer’s Olympic semi-finals, and though this group stage finale didn’t guarantee medal redemption, Doncic still flexed, screamed and threw the ball into the stands with a buzzer to show just how important victory is. rice field.
“Every game he plays like it’s the final,” Mulic said. “When he starts smiling, you know you’re in trouble.”
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