Jusuf Nurkic dominates as Bosnia squeaks by Italy in FIBA qualifiers
Aug 28, 2026, 4:11 PM
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić (30) reacts to blocking Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) from scoring during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic led Bosnia and Herzegovina to a big win over Italy in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
Nurkic finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds on 57.9 percent shooting in the two-point victory.
A monster double-double from Jusuf Nurkic leads Bosnia and Herzegovina to a two-point win over Italy in the second round of World Cup qualifiers. 💪 https://t.co/j0nZkteqcC
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) August 28, 2026
It was the first time that Bosnia and Herzegovina had ever beaten Italy, with the all-time record between the sides now standing at 5-1.
The result couldn’t have come at a better time for Nurkic and Bosnia.
Now sitting at 3-4 in Group J, the opportunity to climb into the top three and qualify for the World Cup for the first time in team history.
BIH will travel to face off against Lithuania on Monday, August 31. Jonas Valanciunas will not be playing, which makes another big Nurkic game accompanied by a Bosnia win that much more likely.
Svi Mykhailiuk, Ukraine Stun Greece
Nurkic wasn’t the only Jazz player to help pull off a FIBA upset on Friday.
Svi Mykhailiuk tallied 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal in Ukraine’s win over Greece.
Svi Mykhailiuk finishes with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists in Ukraine’s upset win over Greece! 🔥 https://t.co/d4p4mDddex
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) August 28, 2026
Instead of setting up a climb in the standings like Bosnia and Herzegovina, the win prevented a fall. Ukraine holds the second spot in Group I with a 5-2 record.
The 13-point performance was a slight step down from Mykhailiuk’s performances in the first round of qualifiers. Still, he is the seventh-leading scorer in the European qualifiers.
Mykhailiuk and Ukraine will also play again on Monday. They’ll face off against Montenegro with a chance to improve to 6-2 and take one step closer to the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
