Lauri Markkanen, Finland Stun Jokic-Led Serbian Team In Round Of 16
Sep 6, 2025, 8:10 PM
OKINAWA, JAPAN - AUGUST 25: Lauri Markkanen #23 of Finland looks on during the FIBA World Cup Group E game between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena on August 25, 2023 in Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
(Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen and the Finland national team defeated Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the EuroBasket Round of 16 on Saturday.
Markkanen finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the 92-86 victory.
Lauri Markkanen Leads Upset Over Serbia
Serbia, led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, had been a force to be reckoned with this summer.
Heading into the quarterfinal game, Serbia was the overwhelming favorite to knock Markkanen and Finland out of the bracket.
Finland took the early lead and didn’t let go of it throughout the first quarter, leading by as much as eight. Serbia stormed back in the second, leading for the majority of the quarter and into the third.
Six points from Markkanen had Finland leading by two going into the final quarter.
Serbia was only able to lead for about 30 seconds in the fourth. A 9-2 run in the final two minutes put the game out of reach and allowed Finland to advance to the quarterfinals.
THE MAN WHO CHANGED FINNISH BASKETBALL FOREVER.
LAURI MARKKANEN DROPS 29 PTS TO ELIMINATE JOKIC & SERBIA!#EUROBASKET pic.twitter.com/dN2IRgyrnC
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2025
Markkanen and Finland will play the winner of France and Georgia on Wednesday, September 10.
France is the favorite, and if they win, it will be a very tough test for Finland if they hope to advance to the semi-finals. France has six current or former NBA players on their EuroBasket roster.
For Finland, it’s just Markkanen. The rest of the roster consists of college stars and international professionals, but no one else has NBA experience.
