Lauri Markkanen once again proved why he is the centerpiece of Finland’s national team, delivering a career-best performance to guide his country to a commanding 109-79 victory over Great Britain at FIBA EuroBasket.
The sold-out crowd of 12,900 at Tampere Deck Arena was treated to a spectacular show, as Markkanen recorded his second-ever 40-point game at the competition.
The Finnish star set the tone early, putting up 29 points and 3 steals in just the first half. He finished with an incredible 43 points, adding 4 steals, and electrified the WolfPack fans who roared with every basket.
The game was competitive in stretches, as Great Britain hung around for most of the first half, refusing to let Finland pull too far ahead. But just before halftime, Markkanen delivered a decisive blow.
A four-point play with 11.9 seconds remaining in the second quarter gave the hosts a double-digit cushion, and from that moment, the contest shifted firmly in Finland’s control.
Despite Britain’s determination and effort, the third quarter showcased the gap in firepower. Even while shooting an impressive 47 percent from the field midway through the period, they simply had no answer for Markkanen’s scoring spree. On this night, he and Finland were operating on another level.
Statistically, Markkanen’s efficiency stood out as much as his scoring volume. He went 13-for-22 from the field, including 7-of-13 from three-point range.
He was well-supported by veteran sharpshooter Sasu Salin, who added 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from deep. For Great Britain, Luke Nelson led with 13 points, while captain Myles Hesson added experience and leadership but acknowledged the challenge of facing a player like Markkanen.
Beyond individual heroics, Finland also displayed their depth and collective rhythm. All 12 players on the roster saw action and each one contributed at least a point. As a team, they buried 18 triples – just one short of the EuroBasket record dating back to 1995.
Head coach Lassi Tuovi praised his team’s mindset after a difficult start to the tournament.
“I congratulate my guys for the way they recovered and the way they handled the situation from the tough game against Sweden, having a day off, and today they did a job, they were humble, they were fresh, particularly mentally even though Great Britain started well and they are a good team when you let them play and I felt that we were locked in.”
Guard Andre Gustavson also emphasized the focus the team brought into this contest.
“The team wasn’t really happy with how we played in the first game, we all understood it and were very locked in and did enough to perform well.”
On the other side, Great Britain’s head coach Marc Steutel reflected on his team’s effort and the challenge of stopping Finland’s star forward.
“We have to try and find different ideas, different solutions. My team continuously fights, continuously battles, no matter what. But for all of us, we have got to try and find other ways when you’re playing against [Markkanen], a player at that level, and he’s carrying the scoring load for a team like that, we have to be more effective.”
Myles Hesson echoed that sentiment, noting the lessons to take from the loss.
“[Lauri] had a great game against us; we did what we could. We made a lot of mistakes; there are things we can learn from, moving forward to the next game, that’s all we can do now, and look forward to the next two, three games that we have.”
With this victory, Finland continues to defend their home court perfectly and now turn their attention to Montenegro, who are still searching for their first win of the competition.
Great Britain, meanwhile, face a must-win clash against Sweden as they look to stay alive in Group B.
Breathtaking display of the wolfpack as Finland 🇫🇮 dismisses Great Britain in front of a sold-out crowd!#EuroBasket
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 29, 2025
