Luka Doncic and Slovenia were forced to battle until the very end on Tuesday night but ultimately came away with an 87-79 victory over Iceland, securing their spot in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025 in Riga.
The win was far from easy, as Iceland once again showed their trademark grit and determination.
The result also had wider implications in Group D. With Slovenia advancing, France benefited as well, locking up a spot in the top four alongside Poland and Israel.
The four teams will now face off on the final day of group play in Katowice to determine the exact order in the standings.
Turning Point
Iceland, known throughout the tournament for their relentless fight, made Slovenia sweat. The Slovenians appeared to have things under control after stretching their lead to 60-46 late in the third quarter.
But Iceland would not go away. A furious run saw them cut the margin to just 70-65 after Martin Hermannsson buried a deep three-pointer with 6:21 left in the fourth.
Momentum seemed to swing, but when big man Tryggvi Hlinason fouled out with 3:26 remaining, Iceland’s hopes took a major blow. From there, Slovenia steadied themselves, and Gregor Hrovat effectively sealed the game by drilling a dagger corner three with just 45 seconds to play.
TCL Player of the Game
Luka Doncic may not have delivered one of his trademark triple-doubles, but he once again proved decisive. The Slovenian superstar tallied 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
His outside shooting touch wasn’t sharp (just 2-of-10 from three-point range), but his presence and leadership were undeniable.
“He might not have dropped another triple-double, but Luka Doncic still is a game-changer for the Slovenian national team on any given day,” the report noted.
Doncic’s ability to come through in crucial moments continues to set the tone for coach Aleksander Sekulic’s team. With Slovenia now safely into the knockout stage, expectations for the Lakers guard will only grow.
On the other side, Martin Hermannsson shone for Iceland. Eight years after scoring 18 points against Slovenia in EuroBasket 2017, the veteran guard delivered his best performance of this tournament, finishing with 22 points and 6 assists.
Stats Don’t Lie
Turnovers played a decisive role. Iceland gave the ball away 18 times, mistakes that Slovenia ruthlessly exploited by outscoring them 22-2 in points off turnovers.
That stat proved more important than Iceland’s interior advantage, where they outscored Slovenia 32-26 in the paint. Much of that came thanks to the towering Hlinason, who had 11 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out.
Bottom Line
Slovenia joined Israel and Poland as the third team from Group D to reach the Round of 16, bouncing back strongly after dropping their first two games against Poland and France. With Doncic leading the charge, they’ll now turn their focus to Riga and the challenges ahead.
Iceland, meanwhile, dropped to 0-4 in group play. This marked their 14th consecutive EuroBasket defeat across three different appearances.
They will aim to finally end that streak in their last game in Katowice, where they face powerhouse France in what could be their final chance to make history.
Yes Luka, no problems 🇸🇮#EuroBasket
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2025
