Serbia vs Finland EuroBasket 2025: Finland Pulls Off Historic Win

Finland stuns Serbia

EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16: Finland's underdog story continues with a stunning 92-86 victory over Serbia. Catch the recap and stats.

Serbia, on the other hand, was hoping to make a deeper run in the tournament. Led by Nikola Jokic, who scored 33 points, grabbed...

Finland pulled off a massive upset, knocking out World Championship runners-up and Olympic silver medalists Serbia from EuroBasket 2025. The Finns secured a thrilling 92-86 win in the Round of 16 match held at the Xiaomi Arena in Riga, Latvia. This stunning victory marks one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.

Finland's path to this remarkable win began with three consecutive victories in Tampere, which earned them a spot in Riga. Although they finished third in Group B after losses to Lithuania and Germany, their momentum carried over to the knockout stage. The Finnish team's performance was a testament to their skills and determination.

Serbia, on the other hand, was hoping to make a deeper run in the tournament. Led by Nikola Jokic, who scored 33 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists, Serbia's talented roster couldn't quite overcome Finland's challenge. Despite their best efforts, Serbia's defensive struggles ultimately led to their downfall.

Finland got off to a strong start, outscoring Serbia 16-5 early on, thanks to a dominant performance from Mikael Jantunen and Miro Little. Jantunen's two three-pointers sparked an 11-0 run for the Finns, who capitalized on Serbia's slow start. Nikola Jovic's basket was the first point of the match for Serbia, but Finland's momentum was building.

Lauri Markkanen extended Finland's lead to 11 points with a three-pointer, foul shot, and additional free throw, pushing the score to 20-9. However, Serbia mounted a strong comeback, with Aleksa Avramovic hitting a three-pointer and Nikola Jokic dominating in the paint. The Balkan side outscored Finland 15-8 in the final stretch of the first quarter, narrowing the deficit to 28-24 heading into the second quarter.

Serbia mounted a strong comeback in the second quarter, led by Ognjen Dobric and Nikola Jokic's dominant play. Back-to-back layups from Dobric and Jokic sparked a 6-0 run that gave Serbia their first lead since the opening minute. The quarter was marked by intense back-and-forth action, with the lead changing hands nine times. Jokic continued to score, while Finland's Miikka Muurinen showcased his athleticism with impressive dunks.

Serbia built momentum in the final two minutes of the first half, going on an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead. However, Lauri Markkanen's free throws narrowed the gap, and Serbia led 48-44 at halftime. In the third quarter, Serbia briefly extended their lead to six points, but Finland responded with a 7-0 run led by Miro Little, Mikael Jantunen, and Markkanen, taking a one-point lead. Finland maintained control, with Elias Valtonen and Sasu Salin hitting threes to put them up by five points, heading into the final quarter with the upset firmly in play.

As the final 10 minutes began, Serbia relied heavily on Nikola Jokic, but Finland's Miikka Muurinen responded with clutch shots, hitting threes to keep pace. The game remained intensely competitive, with the lead seesawing back and forth. A crucial three-pointer from Finland's Valtonen gave his team an 82-78 lead with just over two minutes left, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

FINLAND ARE UP BY 6#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/P7E8d5716w

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2025

Finland sealed the win with a decisive 5-0 run, capped off by Lauri Markkanen's free throws in the final minute. Serbia's Nikola Jovic scored three points after a timeout, but Valtonen's clutch shooting and Markkanen's free throws ultimately put Finland ahead for good, securing a historic 92-86 victory.

Nikola Jokic gave an MVP-caliber performance, scoring 33 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Finland's determination. The Finns held on for a thrilling 92-86 win, advancing to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive EuroBasket. Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points, and Miro Little added 6 assists and 8 rebounds. Finland will await their next opponent, either France or Georgia, for their quarterfinal match on Wednesday.