Markkanen leads Finland to Round of 16 with double-double

Finland secured their ticket to the Round of 16 by defeating Montenegro 85-65 in a buzzing Tampere Deck Arena. For the second consecutive time, all 12,900 seats in the Finnish venue were filled, offering a spectacular show to local supporters. This victory allows the Finns to advance in the competition, while Montenegro finds itself in a critical situation.

A decisive turning point in the second quarter

After a tight first quarter marked by 11 lead changes and a 23-23 tie, Finland took control. Markkanen’s teammates inflicted a stinging 12-1 run on Montenegro at the start of the second period, including a spectacular dunk from their star, followed by a beautiful pivot and basket. Despite Montenegro’s response, the Finns maintained their double-digit lead at halftime thanks to a basket by future BCM point guard Edon Maxhuni in the final seconds.

The Finnish lead peaked at 18 points later in the game, allowing the hosts to control proceedings until the final buzzer. This collective performance demonstrates the Finnish team’s growing strength in this competition.

Markkanen decisive again despite brave Montenegrin defense

After his offensive explosion of 43 points against Great Britain in the previous game, Lauri Markkanen had to battle for his 26 points on 8/16 shooting against a well-organized Montenegrin defense. The « Finnisher » nevertheless earned player of the game honors thanks to his double-double complemented by 10 rebounds and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line, finishing with a 35 efficiency rating. Former Paris player Mikael Jantunen contributed 11 points, while Andrija Slavkovic had his best tournament performance for Montenegro with 15 points.

The striking statistic from this game lies in Finland’s 2-point efficiency, with an excellent 69% success rate in the paint, contrasting with Montenegro’s struggles (13 of 30 attempts).

After a rest day on Sunday, Finland will face Lithuania in their penultimate match, keeping an eye on Riga and the rest of the competition. Montenegro, still searching for their first victory, must absolutely beat either Sweden or Great Britain in their final two games to hope for qualification.