BERLIN — Rudy Gobert scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as Olympic silver medalist France advanced to the EuroBasket quarterfinals by defeating Turkey 87-86 in overtime on Saturday.
Gobert dunked with 2.7 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game and then scored the first four points of overtime, and France never trailed.
“A crazy game,” Gobert said. Craziest ending.
Turkey had what appeared to be complete control of the game with 12.2 seconds remaining in regulation time. She had the ball, up two, went to the free throw line for two free throws and would keep possession of the ball after those free throws, because France had been called for an unsportsmanlike foul.
But Cedi Osman he missed both free throws, a scene he recalls when he did the same at the end of what became a one-point loss to the US at the Basketball World Cup in 2019.
“A really tough time for us, but we were lucky,” added Gobert.
Respect to Turkey for their great game.
Proud of our team for never giving up.
On to the 1/4 finals! ππ½π«π·π« pic.twitter.com/Ejvp1O4Rvuβ Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) September 10, 2022
Thomas Heurtel and Evan Fournier they scored 13 points apiece for France, who were leading by 16 midway through the second quarter.
But Turkey closed the third quarter on a 19-0 run, turning an 11-point deficit into a 57-49 lead before the final 10 minutes of regulation. France missed 11 consecutive shots in that stretch.
Turkey had a chance to win in the final possession of extra time, but Furkan Korkmaz he missed his dribble with about 2 seconds left and his team never fired.
Bugrahan Tuncer scored 22 for Turkey while Korkmaz added 18.
“I don’t know what to say, really,” Tuncer said. “I’m so angry. I’m so sad. If I can’t find nice words, I’m sorry. This is unacceptable.”
France will play the winner of Sunday’s match between Serbia and Italy in the quarterfinals. That matchup is scheduled for Wednesday.
“Maybe it’s the worst emotional loss in my 26-year career,” Turkey coach Ergin Ataman said. “Congratulations to France. I hope they continue on the right track in the quarter-finals. That’s all.”
Slovenia 88, Belgium 72
Luka DonciΔ scored 35 points and defending champion Slovenia capitalized on a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to eliminate Belgium.
Imagine being so good, that 35 PTS is considered “casual.”
Luka with 35 PTS 5 AST 4 STL as Slovenia continue their title defense!#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise pic.twitter.com/lKvPJgQpRa
β #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 10, 2022
Doncic and goran dragic they combined to score or receive assists on Slovenia’s first 40 points in the second half.
“Belgium was playing great basketball,” said Doncic, who is averaging 28 points in six tournament games and 39.3 per game in his last three games. “We knew it was going to be a tough match. They fought until the end.”
Doncic had five rebounds, five assists and four steals for Slovenia, while Klemen Prepelic had 13, Mike Tobey finished with 12 and Dragic added 11.
Manu Lecomte scored 16 points and Pierre-Antoine Gillet had a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds for Belgium.
Slovenia reached the line 25 times to only eight for Belgium.
“I have been hearing the word ‘equality’ for many weeks. But equality does not exist in basketball,” Belgium coach Dario Gjergja said.
Next up for Slovenia is a quarterfinal match on Wednesday against the winner of the Ukraine-Poland matchup. Those teams will play on Sunday.
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France and Slovenia advance to the quarterfinals; Doncic ends with Belgium