Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun vividly demonstrated why he`s frequently likened to Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić on Wednesday. Delivering a performance reminiscent of the three-time NBA MVP, Sengun outshone Jokić to guide Türkiye to a pivotal 95-90 victory against Serbia at EuroBasket 2025.
In a highly anticipated group stage clash, both individually and collectively, Sengun posted an impressive 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, shooting 10-for-17 from the field. Jokić also had a strong outing with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists on 10-for-16 shooting, but on this occasion, he and the Serbian squad were decidedly outplayed.
Sengun dictated Türkiye`s offensive flow, powerfully supported by 23 points from former NBA guard Shane Larkin (ex-Knicks and Celtics), and crucially delivered two game-altering plays in the closing minute.
With just over a minute left, Jokić had given Serbia a one-point lead. Türkiye responded with a two-man play involving Sengun and Larkin. When that didn`t materialize, Larkin passed to Sengun on the wing, isolating him against Jokić. Sengun drove left, executed a clever spin move back to the middle, and drew a foul on Jokić. He then calmly converted both free throws, restoring Türkiye`s one-point advantage.
Serbia had an immediate opportunity to answer, but Sengun first successfully denied Jokić the ball on their ensuing possession. He then switched to guard Marko Gudurić, expertly stripping the ball away. This forced Serbia to foul, sending Larkin to the line, who made two free throws to extend Türkiye`s lead to three. When Jokić missed a potential game-tying three-pointer on Serbia`s subsequent possession, Sengun secured the rebound and sealed the victory with two more clutch free throws.
Tournament Impact and Key Statistics
Throughout the tournament, Sengun has maintained impressive averages of 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, shooting an efficient 65.6% from the field. These remarkable statistics place him ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, fourth in assists, and third in field goal percentage among all players.
Entering their decisive match in Riga, Latvia, both Türkiye and Serbia boasted unblemished 4-0 records, having already secured their places in the knockout stage. However, the stakes remained exceptionally high: the victor would seize the coveted top seed in Group B, paving a significantly easier route to the Final Four.
This pivotal win means Türkiye will now face Sweden (ranked 49th by FIBA) in the Round of 16, strategically finding themselves on the opposite side of the bracket from the reigning FIBA World Cup champions, Germany. Conversely, Serbia is set to challenge Lauri Markkanen`s Finland (20th in FIBA rankings) in their Round of 16 encounter and will be placed on Germany`s side of the bracket. Compounding Serbia`s challenge, guard Bogdan Bogdanović is unfortunately sidelined for the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury sustained last week.
Both Türkiye and Serbia will return to action this Saturday for their respective Round of 16 matches. Türkiye`s game against Sweden is scheduled for 5 a.m. ET, followed by Serbia`s matchup with Finland at 2:45 p.m. ET.
