Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević scored 23 points to guide Montenegro to an important 87-81 win over Sweden at the EuroBasket tournament. On the same day, Turkey and Germany also extended their group stage winning streaks to four matches.
Vučević added 15 rebounds and four assists in Tampere, Finland, helping Montenegro recover after a rough third quarter to secure their first victory in the tournament and keep their round of 16 hopes alive. For Sweden, Pelle Larsson led the scoring with 28 points.
Montenegro led 40-34 at halftime, but Sweden bounced back after the break, outscoring Montenegro 31-24 in the third quarter to take the lead. In the final minutes, Kyle Allman stepped up, scoring 10 points in less than two minutes, giving Montenegro an 80-77 lead with 1:50 remaining, which helped them hold on for the win in Group B.
The EuroBasket group phase features 24 teams across four countries. The top four teams from each group will move on to the knockout stage in Riga, Latvia, from September 6-14. Montenegro can secure qualification with another victory against winless Britain, considered the weakest team in their group.
Serbia, Turkey, and Germany Remain Unbeaten in EuroBasket Group Stage
Serbia stayed unbeaten in the EuroBasket group stage, defeating a winless Czech Republic 82-60 and knocking them out of playoff contention. The Serbian lineup, featuring Nikola Jovic, Nikola Jokic, and Nikola Milutinov, dominated early, leading 27-5 after the first quarter. Milutinov finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. Serbia’s victory also helped Latvia secure a place in the round of 16.
In Group B, Germany remained perfect with a 120-57 win over Britain. Britain put up some resistance early but eventually collapsed. Franz Wagner recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists in just 18 minutes, while Tristan Da Silva added 25 points.
Already qualified from Group A, Turkey easily beat Estonia 84-64 in Riga, building a 12-point lead in the first quarter. Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun starred with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. This marked the first time since 2009 that Turkey won four games in a single EuroBasket. Estonia dropped to 1-3 ahead of its last group match against Portugal. Turkey will now face Serbia to decide the group winner.
Latvia defeated Portugal 78-62, improving to 2-2, with Kristaps Porzingis scoring 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and blocking one shot.
Lithuania secured a spot in the round of 16 by handing host Finland their first loss of the tournament, 81-78. Azuolas Tubelis recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Rokas Jokubaitis added 16 points and 9 assists before leaving injured in the final quarter. Finland’s star Lauri Markkanen, limited to 7 points in the first half, rallied to finish with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
FAQ
Who was the standout player in Montenegro’s win over Sweden?
Nikola Vučević led Montenegro with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists, playing a key role in the victory.
What was the final score of the match?
Montenegro defeated Sweden 87-81 in their EuroBasket group stage game.
How did Sweden perform in the game?
Pelle Larsson led Sweden with 28 points, and they outscored Montenegro in the third quarter, but couldn’t hold on for the win.
How did Montenegro recover from the third-quarter setback?
Kyle Allman scored 10 points in under two minutes, giving Montenegro the lead late in the game and helping secure the win.
What does this victory mean for Montenegro?
The win was Montenegro’s first in the tournament, keeping their hopes alive for reaching the round of 16.