Germany expected in the EuroBasket quarterfinals, Portugal held on well

(Patria) - The German national basketball team became the second quarter-finalist of the EuroBasket after justifying their favorite role in Riga and convincingly defeating Portugal with a score of 85:58.

Although the final result suggests a routine victory, the path to it was not easy at all.

Germany opened the match slightly better and won the first quarter (17:12), but Portugal found its rhythm in the continuation.

Coach Mario Gomes' team played much more effectively in the second period, scoring 20 points and going into halftime with a minimal lead – 31:32.

The third quarter brought continued score uncertainty. Although the Germans won that period 21:19, by the end of the third quarter, their three-point shooting was almost disastrous – they hit only one out of 24 attempts.

The last quarter proved decisive, in which Wagner, Schroder, and teammates finally clicked and hit several outside shots.

Germany went on a run that broke Portugal's resistance and finally secured a place among the top eight teams.

The best players for the winning team were Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder with 16 points each, while Isaac Bonga added 15.

On the other side, Neemias Queta was the most effective with 18 points, while Travante Williams and Diogo Gameiro added eight and seven points, respectively.