Goran Dragić stole the show for Korkmaz as Slovenia defeated Turkey in extra time
By the Eurohoops team/ [email protected]
Luka Dončić was ready to play, but when he rested in the final minutes, Goran Dragić had to be Batman again. The captain of the Slovenian national team made a big three that decided the victory over Turkey in Istanbul with 104:103 after extra time.
It was just a warm-up match, as both teams are preparing for the upcoming Eurobasket and the FIFA World Cup, but it will be one to remember. Dragić finished the night with 28 points and a game-winning three, while Dončić collected 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes of action. He did not play in overtime.
Klemen Prepelič scored 14 points, and Vlatko Čančar scored 12. Slovenia presented a full lineup.
Turkey, still playing without naturalized point guard Shane Larkin, showed off his NBA 3-pointer. Furkan Korkmaz scored 33 points with five 3-pointers, Cedi Osman added 24 points and Alperen Sengun had 19 points and nine rebounds, which was instrumental in Turkey’s comeback.
Without Dončić on the field, Turkey managed to send it to overtime after a foul for a goal and a big block by Sengun and a layup by Korkmaz at the sound of the siren. But Dragić had the last word, and Korkmaz couldn’t score in the last possession of overtime.
Give us overtime, our captain will give you that 🐲🔥🇸🇮.@Goran Dragic@TelemachSi @IFeelSloveniaSi pic.twitter.com/9uR2UuHGiC
— SIovenija Basketball Association (@kzs_si) August 12, 2022
In the first game of the day in Istanbul, Ukraine defeated Poland by 28 points (88:60) and bounced back from Thursday’s loss to Turkey.
Issuf Sanon scored 15 points for the winners, Svi Mykhailiuk added 12, Artem Pustovyi also had 12. Alex Len of the Sacramento Kings did not play for the second consecutive game.
Poland, clearly still disjointed and perhaps reeling from the Ponitka brothers controversy, got 10 points from Jakub Garbacz. Ukraine will be tested by Slovenia next.
In the second warm-up game, Hungary beat Slovakia 72:67, captain Adam Hanga scored nine points to lead the way against an opponent who will not be playing in the Eurobasket.
On the contrary, Hungary is part of the “group of death” together with Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany and Lithuania.