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Neemias Queta: "You know it’s not going to be easy when you go against Germany. They’re the world champions for a reason. Very well-coached. A lot of talent, a lot of length, a lot of size. They play up-tempo. We got to make them play our game. Be physical with them. Don’t let them get easy layups in transition, easy scoring opportunities. Slow the game down and make sure they work for every bucket. We're not intimidated by Germany or anybody here in this tournament. We're just ready to go out there and compete."
Kristaps Porzingis has 21 points and nine rebounds as Latvia defeats Portugal
Latvia got back on track at EuroBasket 2025 with a much-needed 78-62 win over Portugal, improving to 2-2 in Group B. Kristaps Porzingis was the story of the night: after a frustrating shooting drought, he hit his first three-pointer and never looked back, leading a 27-7 second quarter that decided the game. The Latvian star finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a block in 26 minutes, while Latvia’s ball movement was superb, with 14 assists on their first 17 field goals and 11-of-21 from deep in the first half. Portugal struggled to keep up, relying mostly on Neemias Queta’s 16 points and 7 boards.
Bogdan Bogdanovic confirmed out for the rest of the Eurobasket
The Basketball Federation of Serbia confirmed Meridian Sport’s report by announcing that Bogdan Bogdanović will not be able to help the national team in the rest of the championship “due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the game against Portugal in the second round of the group stage.” “Bogdanović has been diagnosed with a hamstring muscle tear that prevents him from continuing in the European Championship. In agreement with his club, the Los Angeles Clippers, the captain will undergo intensive treatment in the United States in the coming period to recover as quickly as possible,” the official KSS website stated.
Led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Serbia eventually found a way to a comfortable 80-69 victory, improving to 2-0 in Group A. The match began dramatically, with Filip Petrusev ejected after just four and a half minutes for punching in the belly. Petrusev, who admitted in the press conference that he did “a hard blockout, but it was a basketball play and I got hit, so it was up to the refs. I wish Petrusev wasn’t thrown out of the game”.
Jokic led the way with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Nikola Jovic with 18 points. Captain Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered an injury in the final minutes of the second quarter and did not return to the court.
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Neemias Queta on Eurobasket win: It felt even bigger than winning in the NBA playoffs
Boston Celtics’ Neemias Queta was sensational in his EuroBasket debut for Portugal, scoring 23 points and grabbing 18 rebounds to help his country secure their first EuroBasket win in 18 years. It was a monumental moment for both Queta and Portugal. After the game, when asked what it meant to achieve a win with his national team, Queta emphasized that it felt even bigger than winning in the NBA playoffs. "It's debatable, you know," Queta said. "I feel like over here we haven't really won, like you said, since 2007. I’ve won a bunch of playoff games in the past, so (it feels bigger)."
NBA Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Final Four participant with Zalgiris Kaunas. Alex Toupane brings over a certain resume, and he will play with FC Porto. The Portuguese will be participating in the 2025-26 Basketball Champions League Qualifiers, facing Falco-Vulcano Szombathely in the Qualification Round Tournament 3.
Bobby Manning: NEW @CelticsCLNS -- Part 1 on my week with Neemias Queta in Lisbon as he prepares to lead Portugal in EuroBasket this month then take on a big role for the #Celtics in 25-26: "We’re not really the group that everybody points out as the best, but we’re gonna prove them otherwise" pic.x.com/wc9bdOEPOY
Portuguese team Sporting CP has secured former Hawks player Cat Barber for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
While the NBA regular season is well underway, national teams are competing to qualify for FIBA tournaments held next summer. Luka Dončić, who takes pride in competing for his native Slovenia each opportunity he gets, will have a chance to do so again at EuroBasket after the national team’s dramatic 83-82 comeback victory over Portugal in Ljubljana. Dončić was eager to watch Slovenia’s two matches against Portugal, recently telling DallasHoopsJournal.com, “I like [their outlook]. They play in Portugal and then at home against Portugal. It’s exciting to watch. I wish I could be part of it, but obviously, I can’t. It’s going to be fun to watch, and I think we have a great chance.”
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Former Magic player Devyn Marble signed with Portuguese team FC Porto for the 2024-25 season.
He averages 18 hours of screen time a day and was proud of how far that number had dipped on a recent vacation to Portugal with his family, even if he had continued tweeting minor news — “Skal Labissiere has agreed to a partially guaranteed one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings” — throughout the weeklong trip. “I prefer the poolside sit-and-do-nothing vacation, so I can still be on my phone as constant as I wanna be,” Charania said. “But did it get to, like, 14 hours? Yes. Did it get to, like, 12 or 13 hours some days? Yes. I think that’s a win.”
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