RIGA (Latvia) - For only the fifth time in FIBA EuroBasket history, Latvia reached triple digits in a single game. They took down Czechia 109-75, tying the nation's record for points scored in a single game in this competition.
Latvia had previously scored 109 points in an overtime defeat to Spain in 2005, and they haven't been to 100+ territory since the Round of 16 in 2017, when they defeated Montenegro 100-68.
Even though this was a comfortable win, it wasn't the largest ever Latvian win in a EuroBasket game. That one happened in 1939, a memorable 108-7 triumph over Finland.
Turning Point
Everything went Latvia's way in this one, but once their defense stepped up in the third quarter, it was clear as day this game would end with their W.
Latvia won the third period 28-12, opening up a 30-point lead with 10 minutes left on the game clock.
TCL Player of the Game
Davis Bertans was feeling it with 20 points, making shots from all over the floor, going 4-of-4 inside the arc, 3-of-6 outside of it, while also picking up 5 rebounds and enjoying himself to the fullest as Latvia climbed to 3-2.
He only played for 22 minutes, but with everybody else feeling good on the offensive end, there was no need to use the sharpshooting forward more than this.
Kristaps Porzingins (16pts), Dairis Bertans (20pts), Rolands Smits (16pts) and Arturs Kurucs (12pts) were also in double digits for Latvia.
Stats Don't Lie
Latvia made 9-of-19 three-pointers in the first half, shot 13-of-18 from inside the arc and dished out 17 assists on 22 field goals in those 20 minutes.
While Czechia weren't that far behind in shooting percentages for the game, they weren't close enough to make this dramatic for the hosts.
Bottom Line
Latvia knew they would finish third in Group A no matter the score of this one. Aside from Andrejs Grazulis missing the game with his ankle in a boot, Kristers Zoriks was also in street clothes for this one.
Coach Luca Banchi is hoping there could be another deep run by his team, but the recent injuries aren't making his life any easier. Another player not at 100 percent is Arturs Zagars, he did play against Czechia, but only for 13 minutes, finishing with 3 points and 4 assists.
Czechia finish the event with no wins, but they figured some things out through these five games. Without Tomas Satoransky, this was always going to be an uphill battle for them.
They Said
"Personally, I'm feeling good. Still feel the hamstring a little bit, but obviously the MRI showed there's nothing serious there, so I'm gonna feel a little tightness in the muscle, that's the happy news." - Arturs Zagars, Latvia
"I would say so. I think we didn't look so good in the first, we started to look better in the second, third, fourth... The trajectory is going in the right direction." - Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia, answering if Latvia are getting better with each game
"That's good that he has that kind of a mindset. That's important, we need to have that kind of a mindset that we wanna go all the way. We're playing at home, we've got nothing to lose, we have to leave it all out there. From his mouth into God's ear." - Porzingis talking about Rolands Smits' comments that Latvia are still the favorites to reach the Final
For more quotes, tune in to the official post-game press conference!
FIBA