Luka Doncic delivered a commanding performance for Slovenia, scoring 42 points to lead his team to an 84-77 victory over Italy in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025.
The Los Angeles Lakers star also added 10 rebounds and three steals, solidifying his reputation as the tournament’s standout player.
Doncic, who entered the game as EuroBasket 2025’s leader in scoring, steals, and overall efficiency, made an immediate impact.
Within the first minute, he experienced a hard fall after colliding with Italy’s Alessandro Pajola. Despite appearing to be affected at times and briefly leaving the court for treatment after the first quarter, he maintained high performance throughout the game.
He finished 11-of-19 from the field, including five three-pointers, and converted 15 of 16 free throws. Slovenia’s scoring was further supported by Klemen Prepelic, who contributed 11 points off the bench, helping maintain the team’s offensive balance.
The game was competitive throughout. Italy managed to recover from a poor start, narrowing Slovenia’s early lead to 78-77 late in the fourth quarter. However, Slovenia regained composure in the closing minutes, executing key defensive stops and free throws to secure the 84-77 win.
Doncic has been the player of the tournament so far
Head coach Aleksander Sekuli commented on Doncic‘s resilience, noting that the guard consistently faces physical challenges but remains a central figure for Slovenia.
Doncic himself confirmed that while the fall caused discomfort, he was prepared to continue playing and undergo treatment afterward.
This performance extended Doncic‘s tournament averages to 34.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game.
His contributions have been instrumental in Slovenia’s advancement and have helped the team remain competitive against some of Europe’s strongest squads.
Slovenia will face Germany in the quarterfinals, a matchup that features NBA talent Franz Wagner and Dennis Schröder. Analysts note that Germany has been among the more consistent teams in the tournament, but Slovenia can draw confidence from recent results and Doncic‘s dominant play.
The Round of 16 also saw early exits for some major contenders, including France and Serbia, underscoring the unpredictable nature of EuroBasket 2025.
Slovenia’s ability to advance past Italy, despite injury concerns for its star player, reflects both the team’s depth and Doncic‘s influence on both ends of the court.
Doncic‘s performance in Riga reinforced his status as one of the top players in international basketball. Beyond scoring, his ability to create opportunities, secure rebounds, and disrupt opposing offenses makes him a critical asset for Slovenia.
His leadership will be essential as the team prepares for a challenging quarterfinal matchup against Germany.
With the knockout stage continuing, Slovenia’s success will largely depend on maintaining Doncic‘s efficiency while leveraging contributions from the supporting cast. If the team can replicate the cohesion and execution demonstrated against Italy, it will remain a strong contender for a deep run in the tournament.
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