By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was just the first game of the Eurobasket for both teams, Slovenia arrived by taxi at the arena but there was nothing casual about the game and the 92-85 win over Lithuania.
Luka Doncic despite a bad shooting night had a double-double (14 p. 4/14 FG, 10 as.) and six rebounds. Mike Tobey translated most of those assists to 24 points, Goran Dragic scored 19, including the most crucial three of the game and Klemen Prepelic also added 14 points.
“There was a lot of physicality from the first second of the game to the last and they have really strong players, especially in the “4” and “5” positions, but we did battle and won the rebounds”, said Dragic. “By playing this way, we can be only better”, added coach Aleksander Sekulic.
The game was tight, with Lithuania getting in the fourth quarter a 78-73 lead and hoping that they would keep this momentum until the end.
However, Slovenia got an 82-81 lead and Dragic with a three made it a four-point game (85-81). Entering the last minute, Slovenia had a seven-point advantage (88-81) and never looked back.
Former NBA player who is currently a free agent, Mindaugas Kuzminskas with 19 points was the top scorer of Lithuania, followed by Marius Grigonis (18 p.) and Lukas Lekavicius (14 p.).
“They scored 25 points after our turnovers and they got the offensive rebounds”, admitted Lithuanian coach Kazys Maksvytis.
The NBA duo of Jonas Valanciunas (9 p. 12 r.) and Domantas Sabonis (10 p. 5 r.) tried their best, but couldn’t make a difference against Doncic and company who beat them also last year in Kaunas in the final of one of the four of the Olympic qualifying tournaments.
“We made so many mistakes and it’s the 1st of September, so we played like first graders”, said Kuzminskas after the game.