22
21:40
So far, however, Slovenia always finds the right answer. Vlatko Čančar taps an offensive rebound out to the right wing and there’s Jaka Blažič, sinking for three points.
21
21:38
It continues in Cologne and that directly with three points for Germany! The ball moves well from left to right and finds the free Schröder in the corner. He throws without hesitation and brings Germany back to five points.
21
21:36
Beginning of 3rd quarter
20
21:26
Mid-term conclusion:
After the first half Slovenia leads in Cologne against Germany with 44:36. The Slovenian team is playing much more committed than last time against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The DBB selection doesn’t actually defend badly, but they didn’t have an answer against Dončić in the first two quarters. Offensively, Germany often lacked creativity in the first half. Again and again attacks only ended in distance throws. In particular, from Wagner, who remained pointless in the first half, Germany can hope for more offensively in the second half.
19
21:17
Again, Dončić creates for his teammates. The drive down the left pulls the German defense together and Dončić plays the skip pass to Prepelič on the right wing. He lets Giffey get out with a feint and transforms from the middle distance.
18
21:12
After the good phase for Germany, Slovenia is now better again. Dončić collects the rebound after a misthrow from Schröder and plays the pass directly across the field to Blažič, who has run in front. For Blažič it is then a simple lay-up and DBB coach Herbert takes the time-out directly.
17
21:10
Now Luka Dončić takes over! After a drive over the right he goes into the step-back on the wing and sinks over the outstretched arm of Daniel Theis for three. So Dončić already has 15 points.
16
21:06
Strong run from Germany! Johannes Voigtmann brings the ball forward after a defensive rebound and puts it through with a ground pass to Andreas Obst, who cuts over the baseline. This time the layup from Obst sits and Germany is back on six points.
15
21:04
That’s where Schröder’s threesome falls. Actually, it is not a good attack by the Germans and Wagner plays the ball to Schröder when the shot clock is running out. He shoots from well behind the line of three and the ball flies through the ring with the sound of the buzzer.
13.
21:01
Now a good attack by the DBB selection. Lô is aggressively defended in the pick-and-roll, but finds Thiemann, who is under the basket. He goes up after a short feint and transforms with a foul from Prepelič. Thiemann’s bonus free throw is also in place.
13.
20:59
Germany continues to find no rhythm offensively. Maodo Lô plays a pick and roll with Johannes Voigtmann and looks for his rolling big in the zone. However, the ball lands Zoran Dragić.
11.
20:55
It’s actually well played, but Obst postpones the end. Voigtmann finds the cutting fruit with a nice push-through, but he only puts the ball against the ring with a reverse.
11.
20:53
Beginning of 2nd quarter
10
20:52
Quarter conclusion:
After the first quarter, Germany is 14:21 behind against Slovenia. Especially offensively, not much works for the DBB selection against a deeply sinking Slovenian defense.
9.
20:48
Again a German attack ends with a three-point attempt by Schröder and again the conclusion is clearly too short. Schröder is already zero out of four from behind the line of three.
7.
20:46
Important for DBB selection! Maodo Lô comes over a block from Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann and gets the ball centrally. He goes straight into his step-back and hits Goran Dragić for three. So far, not much has worked offensively for Germany.
5.
20:41
Schröder’s threesome just doesn’t fall at this European Championship. After a drive from Wagner, the ball runs through Theis to Schröder on the right wing, who is left completely free by Slovenia. Although he has all the time in the world, his throw is clearly too short.
5.
20:39
Mike Tobey is now back in the game to a great deal of cheering from the Slovenian fans.
3.
20:38
It’s hard to stop! Luka Dončić comes easily into the zone after a switch to Daniel Theis and goes up after a spin. There he sinks safely from half-distance.
2.
20:36
It’s an unsettled beginning. Dennis Schröder physically moves to the basket against Goran Dragić on the left, but then misplaces the layup.
1.
20:34
Johannes Voigtmann scored the first points of the game. On the right he pulls away from Luka Dončić and, after a pass from Nick Weiler-Babb, converts the middle-distance shot over the Slovenian.
1.
20:33
Tip off in Cologne! Daniel Theis gets the jump ball for the DBB selection. However, the game had to be stopped immediately because Mike Tobey twisted his ankle on the referee’s foot. Tobey then goes into the dressing room.
20:29
It can start right away! Goran Dragić, Mike Tobey, Jaka Blažič, Vlatko Čančar and Luka Dončić will start for Slovenia. Dragić, who was the last to leave the bench, slips into the starting five. As before, Germany begins with Nick Weiler-Babb, Johannes Voigtmann, Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis and Dennis Schröder.
20:23
The last time the two teams met was just nine days ago as part of World Cup qualifiers. There, the German team surprisingly dominated the game and won 90:71 with almost identical squads. Led by Wagner and Schröder, the DBB selection prevailed against a somewhat slow-acting Slovenia. The key to victory back then was the rebounding duel, which Germany clearly won and which could also be a decisive factor in today’s encounter.
20:17
Slovenia is already certain to be in the round of 16 in Berlin. The 2017 European champions beat Lithuania on the opening matchday and were also victorious against Hungary two days later. Most recently, however, the team around NBA star Luka Dončić suffered a 93:97 defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dončić failed to put on a great show, with an average of 16.9 points in the tournament so far. It remains to be seen what Dončić, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks, has in mind today.
20:09
After three wins from the first three games, Germany already has a ticket for the round of 16 in Berlin. Against Slovenia today it’s all about winning the group and thus avoiding possibly more difficult tasks in Berlin for the time being. After double-digit victories against France and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the DBB selection had a thrilling match against Lithuania on Sunday. In front of a sold-out Lanxess Arena, the game went into extra time twice before Germany narrowly won 109:107.
20:03
Good evening and welcome to the group stage of the 2022 European Basketball Championship! The DBB selection meets Slovenia in their fourth game in Cologne today. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. in the Lanxess Arena. Have fun reading along!