Dončić Dominates as Slovenia Secures Quarterfinal Berth at EuroBasket
Berlin, germany - September 6, 2025 – Luka Dončić delivered a masterful performance, scoring 42 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to propel Slovenia to an 85-78 victory over Italy and a place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 EuroBasket championship. The win solidifies Slovenia’s position in Group D and marks a meaningful step toward contention for the European title.
The game, played at the Berlin Arena, showcased Dončić’s remarkable talent and leadership. Slovenia initially struggled after Dončić briefly left the court due to apparent discomfort, falling behind by as many as 12 points in the second quarter. However, his return ignited the Slovenian offense, shifting momentum and ultimately securing the hard-fought victory. This result concludes Group D play, with Slovenia finishing third with three wins against two losses.
Italy initially matched Slovenia’s intensity,building a 32-20 lead midway through the second quarter. But Dončić’s re-entry into the game sparked a turnaround, with Slovenia closing the first half leading 50-40. He continued to dictate the pace in the third quarter, extending the lead to 58-44.
A late surge from Italy narrowed the gap to just three points with two minutes remaining, but Dončić responded with crucial baskets down the stretch, including a key score with 32 seconds left to put Slovenia ahead 82-77. Slovenia ultimately prevailed by a margin of seven points.
Beyond Dončić’s stellar outing, Klemen Prepelič contributed 11 points, while Alen Omič added 7 points and 7 rebounds. For Italy,Simone Fontecchio led the scoring with 22 points,followed by Saliou Niang with 12.With this victory, Slovenia advances to the quarterfinal round, where thay will face the winner of Group A. Italy, despite the loss, finished atop Group C with a 4-1 record, earning a favorable matchup in the knockout stage. The EuroBasket tournament continues with quarterfinal games scheduled for September 8th and 9th in Berlin.
