EuroBasket 2025: Finland’s Lauri Markkanen faces Nikola Jokic and Serbia in knockout clash

EuroBasket is currently in progress and started with some of the world's best NBA players, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic. The tournament is now down to 16-team knockout stages after the group stage has been concluded.

Meanwhile, team Finland, led by Lauri Markkanen, will have a win-or-go-home game on Saturday against Nikola Jokic and Serbia.

On Wednesday, August 27, the battle began with twelve teams, and Serbia and Nikola Jokic dominated the first day. Teams competed in a round robin tournament within their own group over the course. At the conclusion of the round robin, the top teams from each pool moved on to the knockout stage. On Saturday, September 6, the round of 16 is set to mark the beginning of this phase.

The semifinals will take place on September 12 after the September 9 and 10 quarterfinals. The final championship game and the third-place match are scheduled for Sunday, September 14.

The third-place and championship games as well as the knockout stage will take place in Riga, Latvia. Serbia, meanwhile, is said to be among the competition's favorites. Additionally, Nikola Jokic will be joined by Vasilije Micic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and a formidable squad.

Nikola Jokic is the star of Serbia's 12-man lineup. Even his teammates depend on him. Bogdan Bogdanovic, a member of his club and national squad, said:“He brings probably the highest confidence that I’ve ever had playing with anyone else.. Everybody knows about his IQ and feel for the game, but what really makes him special is his basketball shape for his size, his ability to run and his conditioning.”Now, he is set to face Finland in a match that will decide his EuroBasket future.

On Saturday, Jokic and Serbia will play against Lauri Markkanen and Finland. Serbia and Finland are both formidable squads. Finland and Sweden played a close and competitive group stage match on Wednesday, August 27. Finland defeated Sweden by a slim margin of 93 to 90. The game was close the entire time, but Finland won because they maintained their composure in the closing seconds. Despite putting up a strong fight and extending the match till the very end, Sweden lost by a mere three points.

On the other hand, Serbia demonstrated their superiority over Estonia in another group stage match, winning 98–64. From the beginning, Serbia dominated the match, displaying both offensive and defensive prowess. Estonia couldn't keep up with Serbia's work and struggled to remain in competition. It was due to Serbia's good performance during the group stage and placed them on the radar as a team to look out for in the competition.Now, they are set to play against each other on Saturday, September 6 at 2:45 PM ET. It is 9:45 PM local time in Riga, Latvia. Courtside 1891, FIBA's official streaming platform, will telecast the game in the USA. The Courtside app on DAZN offers access to all EuroBasket games. However, it's not free of cost as viewers will require a FIBA subscription service. Also read: Is Nikola Jokic set to dominate? Everything to know as Serbia opens EuroBasket 2025 as clear favorite against Estonia