RIGA – Germany pulled off a surprising 88-83 victory over Turkey on Sunday to win the EuroBasket title for the primary time since 1993, with level guard Dennis Schroeder draining a late leap shot after which including a pair of high-pressure free throws in an exhilarating climax.
The reigning World Cup champions put in a gritty defensive show, with Isaac Bonga developing with key performs down the stretch earlier than Schroeder put the group on his again and carried them over the road with a late-game point-guard masterclass.
Each side started with a barrage of three-point makes an attempt, blocks and bruising challenges in a high-octane first half that noticed Turkey take a six-point lead into the break, however that lead was rapidly erased at the beginning of the third interval because the Germans roared again.
Hampered after gathering three fouls over the primary three intervals, Turkey’s Alperen Sengun got here again into the sport early within the fourth quarter and made a tricky hook shot earlier than taking a cost on the defensive finish to protect a slender three-point lead.
Cedi Osman went again up the ground and hit his sixth three of the evening to double their lead because the momentum swung, however they may not shake the Germans off and when Sengun picked up his fourth foul with just below 4 minutes remaining, Bonga gave Germany a one-point lead on the subsequent play.
With the sport reaching boiling level, Schroeder scored with a driving layup earlier than Bonga grabbed an offensive rebound and Schroeder made essentially the most of it, hitting a pull-up jumper with 19 seconds left to present the Germans a three-point lead.
Sengun tried to stage, heaving a three-pointer with Daniel Theis’s hand in his face, however the shot kissed the entrance of the rim, and Osman fouled Schroeder after the rebound, with the 31-year-old icing the 2 ensuing photographs from the road to safe an outstanding win.
Within the bronze medal match, Greece needed to maintain off a frenetic late fightback to squeeze previous Finland, nearly blowing a 15-point lead within the last 4 minutes earlier than hanging on to win 92-89 to safe third place within the match.
—Reuters
