Finland Advance to Round of 16 – Markkanen Double-Double
Markkanen Magic Fuels Finland’s EuroBasket Dream in Tampere Thriller
TAMPERE, Finland – The roar inside the Tampere Deck Arena was deafening.For the second night in a row, 12,900 passionate fans packed the stands, their hearts pounding in unison as Finland battled Montenegro in a crucial EuroBasket 2025 qualifier. The prize? A coveted spot in the Round of 16.The result? An emphatic 85-65 victory for the home team, fueled by the brilliance of Lauri Markkanen.
For Montenegro, however, the loss plunges them further into desperation. Winless so far,they face a must-win situation in their remaining games to keep their EuroBasket hopes alive.
The game began as a tense, back-and-forth affair. The first quarter saw a staggering 11 lead changes,with neither team able to establish dominance. The score was knotted at 23-23, a testament to the intensity and evenly matched nature of the opening minutes.
Than, the tide began to turn.
Early in the second quarter, Finland unleashed a 12-1 run that ignited the crowd and shifted the momentum decisively. The catalyst? None other than Lauri Markkanen. A thunderous slam dunk, followed by a mesmerizing spin move to the basket, showcased the Finnisher’s incredible talent and sent a clear message to Montenegro: Finland was here to win.
Montenegro fought valiantly to claw their way back, but Finland, buoyed by the energy of the home crowd, maintained a double-digit lead heading into halftime, punctuated by a timely basket from Edon Maxhuni as the clock expired. From that point on, Finland never looked back, extending their lead to a game-high 18 points en route to a resounding victory.
Markkanen, fresh off a 43-point explosion against Great britain, once again proved to be the driving force for Finland. Despite facing a resolute Montenegrin defence, he poured in 26 points, securing his place as the TCL Player of the Game. His performance wasn’t just about scoring; he also grabbed 13 rebounds and shot a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, demonstrating his all-around impact on the game.
Mikael Jantunen chipped in with 11 points for Finland, providing valuable support to Markkanen.For Montenegro,Andrija Slavkovic delivered a tournament-best performance,scoring 15 points,but his efforts ultimately proved to be in vain.
The key to Finland’s success lay in their efficiency inside the arc. they connected on a remarkable 67 percent of their two-point attempts, a testament to their offensive execution and ability to penetrate the Montenegrin defense. In contrast, Montenegro struggled to find their rythm, shooting a subpar 14-for-33 from two-point range.
Looking ahead, both teams face crucial challenges.Finland, riding high on their home-court triumph, will face Lithuania, aiming to maintain their momentum as they look towards Riga. Montenegro,on the other hand,must regroup and find a way to win at least one of their final two games against sweden and Great Britain to keep their Euro