In a heavyweight battle of All-Star NBA facilities, it was Alperen Sengun who stole the present.
The Houston Rockets massive man powered Turkiye to a 95-90 win over Nikola Jokic and Serbia, handing the Serbians their first defeat of EuroBasket.
🇹🇷 Alperen Sengun: 28 PTS 13 REB 8 AST🇷🇸 Nikola Jokic: 22 PTS 9 REB 4 AST 3 STL
A duel for the ages in the most effective #EuroBasket video games of all-time! pic.twitter.com/reO1uqA6dy
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 3, 2025
With the victory, Turkiye stays unbeaten and clinches the highest spot in Group A, whereas Serbia drops to four-and-one, settling for second place. It was billed as some of the anticipated matchups of the event, and Sengun lived up to date.
It was Alperen Sengun’s, as he dominated Jokic in stretches and managed the tempo when it mattered most.
His power on each ends proved to be the distinction in what many referred to as the very best stage of play EuroBasket has seen thus far.
Following the battle, many are saying the nickname of ‘Child Jokic’ for Sengun simply doesn’t reduce it anymore.
Shane Larkin on Alperen Sengun being referred to as “Child Jokic”:
“I don’t suppose he would need that nickname…
…That nickname was suiting for him a few years in the past however he’s a lot larger and significantly better than he was after they initially gave him that nickname.” pic.twitter.com/gY4dinfyn6
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) September 3, 2025
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Portugal and Sweden additionally secured their locations within the knockout spherical. Celtics heart Neemias Queta scored 15 factors for Portugal in a win-or-go-home conflict in opposition to Estonia earlier than being ejected within the third quarter. Portugal held on 68-65. In Group B, Sweden superior on level differential after Nice Britain pulled off a shock win over Montenegro. Miami’s Pelle Larsson was key in serving to Sweden ebook their place.
Probably the most high-profile showdown of Spherical 16 will see Jokic and Serbia face off in opposition to Utah Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen, who has been a dominant pressure all through the competitors.
Two spots from Group C stay up for grabs, and people can be determined Thursday. However for now, the headlines belong to Sengun, who introduced himself on Europe’s largest stage with a efficiency that even Jokic couldn’t match.
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