A memorable Doncic rescues Slovenia but fails to put the culmination of his feat
Slovenia breathes. He passed the first ‘final’ of the Pre-Olympic, is in the semifinals and can continue dreaming of being in the Games. It’s the good thing about enjoying Luka Doncic, who led the decisive victory over New Zealand (78-104) with a recital of his own: new triple-double with 36 points (6/13 in two-pointers, 3/12 in triples and 15/18 in free throws), 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
But Doncic just missed finishing off his great afternoon by scoring a final triple at the buzzer that would have given his team the +29 necessary to finish as leader. The Slovenians were ahead throughout the game, but It wasn’t enough for them to win. They had to do it by 10 or more points if they wanted to be in the semifinals and by 29 or more to finish as first in the group. They brushed him.
From the first moment they were seen very focused on that goal. 7-29 in the first quarter It was conclusive. However, New Zealand reacted in the second period and reached go down from ten disadvantages (39-46 at half-time). Slovenian income and even victory were in danger.
Doncic finds company
Doncic, who had reached halftime with 19 points, found company in Josh Nebo (20 points and 12 rebounds), Klemen Prepelic (14+6+8) and Gregor Hrovat (14+7). Thus they once again left behind the Oceanic team, who saw how their chances of being in the semifinals were disappearing. Only Shea Or it was a threat (28 points and 10 rebounds).
In a fantastic third quarter (18-31), the Slovenian lead went to 25 points (46-71) making the dream of leading the group very real, which meant, theoretically, avoid Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece in the semifinals. There were options for this until the last moments.
Doncic made three free throws with 19 seconds left to make it 77-104. Ili, between jokes with the Mavericks point guard, missed a free throw and in the last attack, Slovenia had two options to reach +29. First Hrovat missed and, after an attacking rebound, then Doncic from a corner. It would have been the culmination of a feat. The star finished with clear signs of fatigue after playing 35 minutes. And now, probably, Antetokounmpo awaits him.
