Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun, frequently compared to Denver Nuggets sensation Nikola Jokić, powerfully demonstrated his prowess on Wednesday. He delivered a Jokić-esque masterclass, besting the three-time NBA MVP and guiding Türkiye to a vital 95-90 triumph over Serbia in the EuroBasket 2025 group stage.
In one of the tournament`s most eagerly awaited contests, both for team standings and individual matchups, Sengun posted an impressive 28 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists on 10-of-17 shooting. While Jokić also had a strong showing with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 10-of-16 shooting, he and the Serbian squad ultimately fell short on the day.
Sengun was instrumental in Türkiye`s offensive execution, a team that also saw former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin contribute 23 points. Sengun’s decisive actions in the final minute proved to be game-changing.
With just over a minute left, Jokić had given Serbia a one-point lead. Türkiye responded by initiating a two-man play with Sengun and Larkin. When that didn`t materialize, Larkin passed to Sengun on the wing, isolating him against Jokić. Sengun drove left, then executed a spin move back to the middle, drawing a foul on Jokić. He calmly sank both free throws, restoring Türkiye`s one-point advantage.
Serbia still had ample opportunity, but on their next possession, Sengun adeptly prevented Jokić from receiving the ball. He then switched onto Marko Gudurić, expertly stripping the ball from the Serbian guard. This forced Serbia to foul, sending Larkin to the line for two more crucial free throws, extending Türkiye’s lead to three. After Jokić missed a potential game-tying three-pointer on Serbia`s subsequent possession, Sengun secured the rebound and converted two additional free throws, effectively sealing the game.
For the tournament, Sengun`s averages stand at an impressive 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, shooting 65.6% from the field. He ranks among the top performers, holding ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, fourth in assists, and third in field goal percentage.
Entering their showdown in Riga, Latvia, both Türkiye and Serbia boasted perfect 4-0 records, having already secured their places in the knockout stage. However, the stakes remained high, as the victor would claim the top seed in Group B, earning a more favorable path towards the Final Four.
Consequently, Türkiye will proceed to face Sweden (ranked 49th by FIBA) in the Round of 16, finding themselves on the opposite side of the bracket from the reigning FIBA World Cup champions, Germany. In contrast, Serbia will confront Lauri Markkanen`s Finland (ranked 20th by FIBA) in the Round of 16 and has been placed on Germany`s side of the bracket. Compounding Serbia`s challenge, guard Bogdan Bogdanović is out for the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury sustained last week.
Both Türkiye and Serbia are scheduled to compete again this Saturday in their respective Round of 16 matchups. Türkiye will tip off against Sweden at 5 a.m. ET, while Serbia will play Finland at 2:45 p.m. ET.
