In the first match of the FIBA 2023 World Cup European Qualifiers, Group I of the second round, Turkey lost 111-85 away to Latvia.
With this result, the national team suffered its 3rd defeat in the 5th match played in the qualifiers. Latvia, on the other hand, achieved their 4th victory.
first period
Turkey started the game with baskets from outside shots that were scored one after the other, and surpassed the 3rd minute by 9-3. Recovering quickly against the national team, which made simple mistakes in offense, Latvia took the lead in the 6th minute with Davis Bertans’ points from behind the 3-point line: 13-11. Having a great advantage over the nationals with Porzingis’ scorer game, the home team, Latvia, with a 13-point lead (29-16) in the 9th minute, finished the first quarter ahead 31-20.
second period
Catching a 7-0 series at the beginning of the second period, Latvia increased the lead to 18 points in the 12th minute: 38-20. Turkey, which increased its defensive strength and became more organized in the attack, drew the lead to single digits in the 18th minute with Larkin’s three-point field goal scorer: 48-39. In the remaining section, which was the scene of mutual baskets, Latvia went ahead 56-47 in the locker room to allow the gap to close.
third period
Effective from outside shots against the national team, which lost control of the game in the third quarter, Latvia increased the lead to 26 points in the 27th minute: 82-56.
The home team entered the final period leading 87-63.
Number period
Increasing the lead to 31 points in the fourth and last quarters, Latvia won the game 111-85, where they played well from start to finish and hit 20 shots from outside shots.
Latvia: 111 – Turkey: 85
Style: Dress
Referees: Ademir Zurapovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sergii Zashchuk (Ukraine), Marius Ciulin (Romania)
Latvia: Strelnieks 8, Dairis Bertans 6, Davis Bertans 17, Smits 11, Porzingis 22, Mejeris 2, Cavars 7, Lomasz 15, Zoriks 7, Rodions Kurucs 8, Grazulis 8
Turkey: Larkin 15, Ercan Osmani 12, Furkan Korkmaz 10, Cedi Osman 15, Sertaç Şanlı, Melih Mahmutoğlu 5, Alperen Şengün 8, Onuralp Bitim, Şehmus Hazer 12, Sadık Emir Kabaca 4, Metecan Birsen 4
1st Period: 31-20
Circuit: 56-47
3. Period: 87-63
