From BZ/dpa
NBA superstar Luka Doncic has temporarily suspended the German team’s basketball festival at the home European Championship.
The German team around captain Dennis Schröder had to admit defeat to the Slovenians on Tuesday evening in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, which was again sold out with 18,017 spectators, with 80:88 (36:44) and thus missed the early group victory.
With a record of 3:1 victories, the team of national coach Gordon Herbert, who have already qualified for the knockout round in Berlin, still has the chance to finish first in Group B, which was described as a hammer group before the tournament.
To do this, Germany must win its last group game this Wednesday (8.30 p.m. / Magentasport) against Hungary, who have already been eliminated, and Slovenia must first lose to France. In any case, Germany will then play the round of 16 in Berlin on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Berlin.
With 36 points and ten rebounds, Doncic was the outstanding player for the Slovenians. On the German side, Schröder was the best thrower with 19 points. NBA professional Franz Wagner remained pale this time and, two days after his 32-point gala against Lithuania, only had eight points this time.
Shortly before the European Championship, the German team clearly won against Slovenia in the World Cup qualifier (90:71). But unlike in Munich, Doncic and Co. seemed much more motivated and committed this time. The 93:97 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday put the defending champions under pressure in the race for a good starting position for the knockout stages.
Albas Johannes Thiemann (right) tries to steal the ball from Luka Doncic Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa
The German team, on the other hand, looked a bit tired and unfocused two days after the dramatic win against Lithuania after double extra time. Schröder only hit one of his six shots in the first quarter, Wagner, who was still outstanding, didn’t score a point in the first ten minutes against Lithuania. Consequently, Germany was seven points behind after the first quarter (14:21).
In the second section, the gap even grew to 14 points (17:31). But then Schröder finally hit his first three, the German team came within six points (25:31). Just when the momentum seemed to be on the side of Schröder and Co., superstar Doncic extended the lead of the Slovenians again by five points in a row.
At half-time, Germany was deservedly eight points behind (36:44). Also because Doncic already had 17 points and seven rebounds.
After the break, the German team came out of the dressing room more determined and temporarily reduced the gap to two points. But then Doncic took command again and almost single-handedly inflicted Germany’s first defeat. Germany’s captain Schröder was sent off after a technical and an unsportsmanlike foul in the final seconds.