Another Laksa, another win: Martins Laksa's perfect game downs Greece, gets Latvia on the board

SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - First there was Janis Laksa, the father. Then it was Kitija Laksa, the daughter. Now, Greece met the son and the brother, as Martins Laksa led Latvia to their first win of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers, while also handing Greece their first defeat in a 77-66 affair.

Latvia were desperately unlucky during the first FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers window in February, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria, by a single point and in double overtime, respectively. The luck seems to be turning, as the big win over Greece keeps them alive in the hunt for the spot at the summit.

Turning Point: Latvia held Greece to 9 points in the second quarter and held a double digit lead for most of the second half. Any hopes of Greece making a comeback went to waste when they had seven straight empty possessions to start the fourth quarter, allowing the Latvians to calmly guide this one to the end. Greece scored in consecutive possessions only once during the final period.

Game Hero: Martins Laksa, the Pszczolka Start Lublin hot-shooting man. The good start to the club season was no accident for him, as he went 6-of-6 from the field, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, and added 3-of-3 from the line, giving him a team-high 19 points. Shooting genes of the Laksa family paying off for Latvia, again.

Stats Don't Lie: The 15-12 margin in the offensive rebounding did not hurt Greece, but a 16-6 second chance points difference did. Latvia made their extra possessions count.

Bottom Line: Greece will be taking on Bulgaria on Sunday, trying to prevent an 0-2 Window after they had gone 2-0 the first time around. Latvia can build on this momentum, but facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo will always be a tough task, no matter which team you are.

They Said:

FIBA