Jokic sets personal record and qualifies Serbia for round of 16
Nikola Jokic delivered an offensive masterclass to lead Serbia to a crucial 84-80 victory against Latvia at home, in front of 11,000 mostly Latvian fans. This historic performance by the Denver center helps Serbia achieve a perfect 3-0 record and secure their ticket to the round of 16, regardless of their results in the final two group matches. It’s also a strong response after the adequate team performance against Portugal the day before.
A personal record in challenging circumstances
Without captain Bogdan Bogdanovic, out with a hamstring injury, Serbia had to rely on their technical leader. Latvia opted for man-to-man defense on Jokic, using Andrejs Grazulis, Kristaps Porzingis, Rolands Smits and Klavs Cavars in succession. A strategy that backfired on the tournament hosts.
The three-time NBA MVP dominated all his matchups, exploiting every favorable situation in post-up and delayed screens. With 14 shot attempts in the first half, Jokic had already scored 19 points before halftime. He continued his momentum to finish with 39 points on 12/21 shooting, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, breaking his previous national team record of 32 points set against Italy in 2022.
A tense finish
Despite Serbian dominance for most of the game, thanks notably to six combined 3-pointers from Marko Guduric, Aleksa Avramovic and Ognjen Dobric, Latvia managed to come back in crunch time. With 1:45 left, Davis Bertans brought his team within four points (75-79) with a deep three-pointer.
Although Jokic immediately responded with a three-pointer, Latvia went on a 5-0 run capped by Arturs Kurucs that ignited the Riga arena. At 82-80 with less than a minute on the clock, Jokic sealed the victory at the free-throw line, prompting « MVP » chants from Serbian fans in attendance.
This victory confirms Serbia’s dominance in the paint (42-22 in points in the paint) and puts the team in an ideal position for the rest of the tournament. Filip Petrusev also contributed with 12 points, redeeming himself after his early ejection against Portugal. Latvia, now with two losses in three games, will need to bounce back against Portugal and the Czech Republic.
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