Lakers star Luka Doncic scored 26 points as Slovenia topped Iceland, 87-79, to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the EuroBasket tournament, qualifying France along the way.
Doncic, who battled early foul trouble, shot just 8 for 22 from the field (2 for 10 from 3-point range) and 8 for 11 from the free-throw line to go with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in 32 minutes in Katowice, Poland.
Doncic is the leading scorer in the tournament so far at 31.3 points per game, with Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (Finland) and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) both averaging 29 ppg.
Slovenia joined Poland, Israel and France as the four teams to advance from Group D. The top four teams from each six-team group advance in the 24-team tournament.
Spain is in danger of not getting out of Group C after losing to Italy, 67-63, on Tuesday in Limassol, Cyprus, but the defending EuroBasket champion still controls its destiny.
Marco Spissu put Italy in front for good at 64-63 with two free throws with 31 seconds left and made two more with 14 seconds remaining. Giampaolo Ricci converted one of two free throws with eight seconds on the clock.
Spain, which in 2022 won its fourth title, is tied with Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2-2 each. Greece and Italy have clinched two of the group’s four spots in the round of 16. But Georgia plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, so if Spain defeats Greece that same day, the Spaniards will advance.
The knockout phase will be in Riga, Latvia, from Sept. 6-14. Spain beat France, 88-76, in the 2022 final.
Mouhamet Diouf led a balanced Italian attack with 14 points, Ricci added 11 points and Saliou Niang had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Niang in the second round this year.
Santi Aldama, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, led Spain with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sergio de Larrea scored 15 points.
Avdija’s leads Israel into knockout stage
Deni Avdija led the way with 22 points as Israel reached the knockout stage with a 92-89 win over Belgium. Avdija, a Portland Trail Blazers forward, scored 23 points Sunday when Israel stunned Paris Olympics silver medalist France, 82-69. This time, Maccabi Tel Aviv center Roman Sorkin backed him up with 18 points.
Israel led by 21 points at one stage in the Polish city of Katowice before Belgium closed the gap.
With four seconds left, Yam Madar sank two free throws to give Israel a 92-87 lead and ensure a tense victory that put Israel provisionally top of Group D.
Loic Schwartz hit four three-pointers among his 14 points for Belgium.
Antetokounmpo rests and Greece loses
Greece lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 80-77, for its first Group C defeat.
The Greeks had already qualified for the last 16 and Antetokounmpo was rested in Limassol because of some knee discomfort.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis told Greek public broadcaster ERT that Antetokounmpo should be available to play Thursday against Spain.
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic and John Roberson both had 18 points for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which improved to 2-2 in the group phase.
Georgia kept its qualifying chances alive with a 93-61 rout of co-host Cyprus, which is winless. Barcelona forward Tornike Shengelia scored 27 points for Georgia and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze had 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Yabusele scores 36 to lead France past Poland
Guerschon Yabusele shot 6 for 12 from 3-point range and scored 36 points to help France defeat Poland, 83-76.
Yabusele, who started 43 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, also had six rebounds.
Élie Okobo added 14 points and 10 assists for France and Jaylen Hoard scored 10 points.
Jordan Loyd led Poland with 18 points, Mateusz Ponitka scored 16 points and Michał Sokołowski finished with 15.
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