Luka Doncic once again turned the stage into his own personal showcase, dazzling with 42 points to lift Slovenia past Italy 84-77 in a tense Round of 16 clash at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
The 2017 champions nearly collapsed after building a 19-point cushion, but Doncic’s brilliance steadied them as they secured a fourth straight win over Italy, improving to 9-2 all-time in the matchup.
Italy’s last victory against Slovenia came nearly two decades ago, at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006.
Turning Point
Drama struck right at the tip-off when Doncic crashed hard onto his right side just 36 seconds in. Any fears of injury were quickly erased as the Slovenian superstar erupted for 10 quick points during a 15-2 surge that set the tone at 15-4.
Slovenia’s lead swelled to 32-13, silencing Italian hopes early.
Italy, however, showed the same grit that had carried them past Spain in the group stage. The Azzurri whittled the deficit down to 45-38 late in the first half and went into the break trailing only 50-40.
They came out firing in the second half, scoring the first four points to cut it to six.
But Slovenia punched back with nine straight points, restoring a double-digit gap. With six minutes remaining, they were in control at 78-65.
Still, Italy wasn’t done. A furious 12-0 run stunned Slovenia, suddenly making it 78-77 with just 100 seconds to play.
That’s when Doncic slammed the door shut, calmly knocking down four free throws in the closing moments to seal the victory.
TCL Player of the Game
Doncic was simply unstoppable. Already leading the tournament in efficiency, scoring, and steals, he added another masterclass to his resume.
Italy’s defense had no answer as he poured in 22 points in the first quarter alone and reached 30 by halftime.
He finished with 42 points – just five shy of his own EuroBasket record of 47 set against France in 2022. His shooting was ruthless: 11-of-19 from the field, 5-of-11 from three-point range, and 15-of-16 at the line.
He also grabbed 10 rebounds and swiped 3 steals, showing his all-around impact.
This marked Doncic’s fourth 30+ point performance of the tournament. Only Nikos Galis, with five such games in 1989, has had more in a single EuroBasket.
“I just try to help my team in every way possible,” Doncic said afterward. “Italy played tough, but we stayed together. That’s what matters.”
Klemen Prepelic chipped in with 11 points, and veteran Alen Omic added 7 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Simone Fontecchio paced Italy with 22 points in defeat.
Stats Don’t Lie
Slovenia’s hustle on the glass was crucial. They out-rebounded Italy 38-32 and hauled in 15 offensive rebounds, converting them into 16 second-chance points – key in a game that came down to the final possessions.
Bottom Line
Slovenia advanced to their eighth Quarter-Final in the last nine EuroBasket tournaments, where they will now face reigning world champions Germany in a blockbuster matchup.
Italy, meanwhile, saw their proud streak of four straight Quarter-Final appearances come to a halt.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Doncic reflected. “Every game is a battle. But we’re still here, and we’re ready for the next one.”
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— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025
