Turkey made a statement in game two with a thumping 79-56 win over Portugal in Panevezys.
In a lifeless first quarter where only four fouls were called and the action was fast but inconsistent, the World Championship silver-medallists turned up the heat in the third quarter, scoring 25 points and holding their Portuguese opponents to 11.
Portugal, who finished 1-7 in the qualifying stages for this tournament, advanced through the additional qualifier, and looked well beaten in the early stages of the third when Turkey’s lead ballooned to 68-38 in the latter stages, going into the fourth.
Hedu Turkoglu and Enes Kanter both led Turkey with 14 points each. Portugal’s Elvis Evora led with 11.
