By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
France was leading with 86-83 with 70 seconds to go. However, Latvia finished the game on a 5-0 run to get the 88-86 and push the FIBA World Cup 2019 silver medalists out of the competition.
Rolands Smits scored four of those five points and Arturs Zagars had one out of two free throws, as Latvia thanks to this win qualified for the second round with a 2-0 record, being tied with Canada.
This was the duo that not only dictated the outcome but also had their best game for the national team as Smits scored 20 points and Zagars, a young talented point guard had 22.
Davis Bertans added 15 points and Kristeks Zoriks contributed 13.
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Evan Fournier had a monster game with 27 points but missed two crucial shots for the losing side in the closing seconds.
During the same period, Guershon Yabusele who scored 18 points, couldn’t convert on a tip and Sylvain Francisco also couldn’t connect on the last shot of the game, a three that could have won the game.
France got the lead until then, starting the game by scoring 33 points in the first period and building even a 13-point advantage (72-59) but it was not enough.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup