Day 1 of the EuroBasket 2025 tournament delivered an exciting mix of historic milestones, thrilling upsets, and dominant displays from top contenders. Portugal celebrated a monumental victory, their first in 18 years, thanks to an outstanding performance by Celtics center Neemias Queta. Meanwhile, powerhouse teams like Serbia and Germany asserted their dominance, while Turkey pulled off a notable upset against host Latvia, setting the stage for an action-packed tournament.
🏆 Portugal’s Historic Victory
Portugal made headlines on the opening day by securing their first EuroBasket win in 18 years, defeating the Czech Republic 62-50. The star of the show was Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, who delivered an incredible performance with 23 points, 18 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. His remarkable stat line marked him as the first player since 1995 to achieve at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in their EuroBasket debut. This victory was particularly sweet for Portugal, whose last win in the tournament dated back to 2007 against Israel.
🚀 Upset Wins and Close Contests
The tournament’s first day also featured exciting upsets and closely fought battles. Turkey surprised host nation Latvia with a convincing 93-73 win at the sold-out Xiaomi Arena. Cedi Osman led Turkey with 20 points, supported by Kenan Sipahi’s 19 points and a versatile performance from Rockets center Alperen Sengun, who added 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Turkey took control early, never really looking back after an initial one-point deficit in the first quarter. In another tight game, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points to guide Finland to a narrow 93-90 victory over Sweden, with Miikka Muurinen sinking crucial baskets late in the game to seal the win.
💪 Powerhouses Showcase Dominance
As expected, some of the tournament favorites started their campaigns with commanding wins. Serbia, widely considered a strong contender with several NBA players, routed Estonia 98-64. Nikola Jovic led the scoring with 18 points, while three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Serbia established a significant lead early on and maintained it throughout the game. Reigning World Cup champion Germany also demonstrated their strength, overcoming Montenegro 106-76. After a close first half, Germany pulled away in the third quarter with a dominant 33-12 run, highlighted by four three-pointers from Andreas Obst, showcasing their championship pedigree.
✨ Standout Player Performances
Day 1 saw several players deliver exceptional individual performances. Beyond Neemias Queta’s historic outing, Lauri Markkanen’s 28 points were crucial for Finland’s narrow win. Cedi Osman’s 20 points and Alperen Sengun’s all-around game were key to Turkey’s upset victory. Nikola Jokic continued to impress with a double-double for Serbia, while Andreas Obst’s sharpshooting helped Germany break open their game against Montenegro. These standout efforts promise an exciting EuroBasket 2025 tournament ahead.
