Luka Doncic, Dorsey, and other fully ready to embark on…
After Sunday’s disappointing finish to 2023 World Cup qualifying, Luka Dončić and the Slovenian national team will move on to the EuroBasket tournament, opening on Thursday against Lithuania.
Slovenia suffered its biggest loss of the eight-game qualifying event on Sunday as Germany took a 90-71 rout.
Dončić was strong, as usual, with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, but the Slovenians were overrun in the third quarter and couldn’t recover.
Dončić had a minor scare when he appeared to tweak his right ankle, but after a brief rest, he returned to the game.
The Slovenians finished with a 5-3 record through this qualifying window and appear to be well-positioned to qualify for next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.
They were third in their qualifying group behind Germany and Finland.
There will be 12 European teams that make the World Cup.
Luka Doncic, Dorsey, and other fully ready to embark on…
Also in action Sunday were Mavericks Davis Bertāns and Tyler Dorsey.
Bertāns and former Maverick Kristaps Porzingis fueled a big third quarter for Latvia as they overcame Great Britain 87-80.
Bertans finished with two points and six rebounds while Porzingis dominated inside and outside with 29 points and 14 rebounds.
The Latvians did not qualify for the EuroBasket, despite a strong showing during this qualifying window.
Dorsey, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece had a much easier time with Belgium, taking a 85-68 victory. Dorsey had 22 points in support of Antetokounmpo, who had 26.
The Greeks will take on Croatia in their EuroBasket opener on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mavericks’ center/forward Dwight Powell is playing for Canada in the Americas qualifying tournament for the World Cup and they finish this round of qualifying Monday against Panama.
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The Canadians, with veteran NBA players h and Powell leading the way, are 7-0 in qualifying games.
