EuroBasket 2015: warm up recap

With EuroBasket 2015 just around the corner the 24 competing nations are continuing to ready themselves for the 39th edition of the competition. The big tip off will be happening on September 5th in Latvia, Croatia, France, and Germany and there were plenty of warm up clashed on Friday.

Greece and Turkey both came away with victories in the Acropolis Cup, but Lithuania’s preparations faltered and the Netherlands slumped.

Greece vs. Netherlands, 92-80
Greece is playing host at the Acropolis Cup and the team continued to look good on the road to EuroBasket 2015 with a solid win over the Netherlands. These two nations will be clashing again on September 10th as the pair have been drawn together in Group C. Greece started well and took an early lead, taking a 25-18 lead through ten minutes. From there the hosts never looked back and opened an 8 point lead through the halftime break, the score at 48-40. The Netherlands never let Greece make it a formality, but the visitors could never quite get in the game and the home team eased to victory in the second half.

Giannis Antetokounmpo topped the scoring with 22 points for winners, while Ioannis Bourousis, Nikolaos Zisis, Nick Calathes, Georgios Printezis all grabbed 10 points in the win.

Charlon Kloof led Holland with 17 points, and Kees Akerboom followed with 16 points.

Turkey vs. Lithuania, 71-53
Turkey put together a very good game in downing Lithuania to boost its warm up for the EuroBasket 2015, while the Lithuanians will be hoping to pick up their form in the coming days. The Lithuanians actually took a seven point lead, but Turkey responded to make it 13-13 and then tied 15 apiece through the first quarter. The Turks pulled ahead in the second frame and secured a 30-24 lead through the long break before Lithuania hit back to get within two points at thirty minutes. Turkey found another gear though and a 20-4 run in the fourth act killed the game.

Ersan Ilyasova grabbed a double-double of 13 points and 12 boards, while Semih Erden added 12 points, and Melih Mahmutoglu 12 points.

Jonas Valanciunas kept Lithuania in it with 14 points, followed by Renaldas Seibutis with 12 points.

Slovenia vs. Serbia, 70-79
Away from the Acropolis Cup Serbia shocked Slovenia on the road to maintain solid 2015 EuroBasket preparations. 12,000 fans packed the Ljubljana’s Stozice Arena but had to watch as Serbia ended the hosts’ three game winning streak. The visitors moved ahead early and managed a 22-20 lead through the first quarter, and then built on the advantage with an 11-0 run and 40-28 lead at halftime. Slovenia hit back early in the third stanza to tie proceedings at 47-47, but Serbia came straight back with a 14-2 run that settled the contest.

Nemanja Bjelica was the scoring star for the Serbs with 19 points, with Miroslav Raduljica grabbing 11 points, and with Nemanja Nedovic 11 points.

Alen Omic led the losing effort with 15 points, while Zoran Dragic netted 14.