Day 7 of EuroBasket 2025 brought intense action and crucial outcomes, as teams battled fiercely for a place in the knockout stage. Defending champions Spain faced a significant setback with a narrow loss to Italy, putting their title defense under pressure, although they still control their own fate. Meanwhile, star players Luka Dončić of Slovenia and Deni Avdija of Israel led their respective teams to impressive victories, securing spots in the Round of 16. Italy, France, and Poland also successfully advanced, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase in Riga, Latvia, from September 6-14.
🇪🇸 Spain’s Title Defense Tested by Italy
The defending EuroBasket champions, Spain, found themselves in a precarious position after a 67-63 defeat against Italy in Group C. Despite the loss, Spain, currently tied at 2-2 with Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, still has a clear path to advance: a win against Greece on Thursday will secure their spot in the Round of 16. Italy sealed their victory with clutch free throws from Marco Spissu in the final minute, putting them ahead for good. Giampaolo Ricci also contributed crucial points. Italy showcased a balanced offense, with Mouhamet Diouf leading the scoring with 14 points, while Ricci added 11 and Saliou Niang (drafted by the Cavaliers) chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds. For Spain, Santi Aldama (Grizzlies) delivered a strong performance with 19 points and 10 rebounds, supported by Sergio de Larrea’s 15 points.
🌟 Star Players Lead Teams to Knockout Stage
Several teams booked their tickets to the knockout stage thanks to standout performances from their key players. Slovenia advanced to the last 16 with an 87-79 win over Iceland, primarily fueled by Luka Dončić’s 26 points. Despite shooting just 2-of-10 from three-point range, the Lakers star’s overall impact was undeniable, also helping France qualify in the process. Israel also secured their spot, overcoming Belgium 92-89, with Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers) leading the charge with 22 points. Avdija had previously impressed with 23 points in a stunning win against Paris Olympics silver medalist France. Against Belgium, Roman Sorkin (Maccabi Tel Aviv) provided solid support with 18 points. Yam Madar’s two late free throws clinched the tense victory for Israel, momentarily placing them atop Group D.
💪 Greece’s First Loss as Bosnia & Herzegovina Impresses
In other Group C action, already-qualified Greece suffered their first defeat, losing 80-77 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Greek star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was rested for the game due to minor knee discomfort. Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis indicated that Antetokounmpo is expected to be available for their upcoming game against Spain on Thursday. Bosnia and Herzegovina capitalized on this opportunity, with Jusuf Nurkic (Jazz) and John Roberson each scoring 18 points, helping their team improve to a 2-2 record in the group phase. This crucial win keeps Bosnia and Herzegovina in contention for a knockout stage berth.
