Incredible Doncic with EuroBasket record leads Slovenia to quarterfinals

(Patria) - Slovenia's basketball players have advanced to the quarterfinals of the EuroBasket after defeating Italy today in Riga with a score of 84-77.

LUKA EXPLODES FOR 42 PTS AND SLOVENIA MOVE ON 🇸🇮#EuroBasket

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025

Slovenia was once again led by the phenomenal Luka Doncic with 42 points and 10 rebounds, while Simone Fontecchio scored 22 for Italy.

Doncic played a fantastic first quarter in which he scored more than half of his points (22), and gave his team a significant lead.

Italy scored the first four points of the game, but Slovenia responded with a 15-4 run and never relinquished the lead.

Doncic's performance in the first 10 minutes was so great that he scored more points than all his teammates and opponents combined.

Also, the brilliant Doncic broke the EuroBasket record for the most points scored in one half.

The Slovenian scored 30, breaking the record he set earlier in the tournament with 29 against Great Britain through the first two quarters.

Italy did not give up, and in the second half, they came very close several times, but each time they fell short due to their own mistakes.

At the start of the third quarter, the score was 50-44, but Slovenia followed with a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 59-44.

At 59-50, Italy had a fast break with three players against one Slovenian, but their best player Fontecchio then committed an offensive foul, which was his fourth personal foul.

Italy came closest with a basket by Fontecchio to make it 78-77 with only 1:53 minutes left, and after Doncic made two free throws for 80-77, Fontecchio ruined Italy's next two possessions.

First, he took an unreasonable three-pointer, and after Italy defended, Fontecchio rushed under the Slovenian basket, and when his path was blocked, he threw the ball up instead of trying to pass to a teammate.

Doncic then made two more free throws, taking the game out of Italy's reach.

Slovenia will play against world champion Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, after Germany defeated Portugal 85-58 on Saturday, writes Sportklub.