EuroBasket 2017: Day 3 Groups A and B

Day 4 of EuroBasket 2014 saw Group A and Group B move through three rounds of games. The standings are starting to take shape, as we pass the half way point of this stage. Through today’s contests, only one team from both groups has managed to stay undefeated.

Group A

And that team is Slovenia, who managed to maintain a 100% record through three EuroBasket 2017 games. A 78-72 victory over Greece kept the Slovenians top of the standings, starting the game well to lead 23-13 through ten minutes. Greece fought back to make it 35-29 through halftime, and took a 52-57 lead through thirty minutes after draining 28 third act points. Slovenia wrestled back the momentum and raced to victory.

Using heavy scoring, France overcame a stubborn Iceland with a 115-79 victory to move to 2-1 in Group A. Les Bleus was strong offensively from the tip off, but through halftime Iceland was still within touching distance at 49-42. France continued to drain buckets for fun, nailing 39 points to subdue Iceland for good in the third quarter. Nando De-Colo topped six French players in double figures with 16 points.

Finland took out Poland 90-87 in a tight game that was decided by two overtime periods. The Finnish looked to be cruising through the first quarter and led 18-8. Poland picked it up in the second quarter and through the long break the score was 36-32. Poland continued to fight back and locked the game at 52-52 after three quarters. The teams tied through Q4 and the first overtime period, before Finland finally edged it at the closing buzzer of 2OT.

Group B

Ukraine give itself a chance of qualification with an 81-88 win over Georgia, to pick up its first victory of EuroBasket 2017. Both these teams are now on 1-2 but can still progress with two victories. Ukraine looked good through the first half and led 38-51 through the midway point. However, Georgia soon started to click in the second half to make it interesting, before Ukraine saw the game out in the end.

Lithuania picked up an important win over Italy, using a 78-73 success to join the Italians on 2-1 in Group B. Lithuania used an 18-9 second quarter to lead 41-31 and rarely looked back, managing the game well in the second half, despite Italy reducing the deficit.

Israel prevented Germany from staying unbeaten and made Group B tight with an 80-82 win. Victory handed the Israelis their first win and Germany slipped to 2-1. It was a high-scoring game for Israel, while Germany looked hot and cold, going through periods of cold buckets.