EuroBasket: Slovenia Notches Third Win, Russia Out
As has become tradition at the tournament, Slovenia got off to a very slow start, falling behind by as many as nine points (10:19) against a pesky Georgian team just before the end of the first quarter.
Things turned around in the second quarter, as a hot shooting streak by Slovenia, which included six three point shots from seven attempts, helped it tie the score after seven minutes and then build a 10-point lead (52:42) at the end of the half.
Yet Georgia would not lie down and slowly but surely chipped away at the Slovenia lead in the third and fourth quarters to get to as close as one point (62:61) with 2 minutes and 45 seconds to go in the match.
With the possibility of a surprise loss looming, Slovenia responded with a late burst led by star point guard Goran Dragić (11 pts) and brother Zoran Dragić (12 pts) to secure the win.
In one of the biggest surprises so far at the tournament, Sweden crushed a lacklustre Russia 81:62 (18:15, 34:29, 52:45) to hand one of Europe's biggest basketball powers their third loss and eliminate them from further contention.
Turkey also suffered their third loss of the tournament, as they were picked apart by Greece 61:84 (16:21, 35:41, 49:64) in the third group D match.
Turkey now no longer control their destiny, as a win by Finland against Russia on Sunday would send them home.
Like Slovenia, Greece remain unbeaten in the tournament, along with fellow group D team Italy, who brought the previously undefeated Finnish team back to solid ground with a 62:44 (14:17, 31:26, 46:34) win.
The only other unbeaten team at the tournament following three matches is Ukraine in group A. Both groups A and B were resting today.
In Slovenia's group, defending champions Spain recovered from their loss against Slovenia on Thursday to demolish the Czech Republic 60:39 (18:7, 33:25, 47:37).