Gameday 5 Top Performers: Markkanen, Hlinason, Ponitka, Vezenkov, Doncic

MUNICH (Germany) - Lauri Markkanen marked his return to the Finnish national team with the joint-highest individual efficiency on Gameday 5 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers.

The seven-footer starred with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds as well as adding 4 assists and 4 steals to help Finland advance to the Second Round with an 85-69 victory over their Nordic neighbors Sweden.

Tryggvi Hlinason matched Markkanen's efficiency valuation of 31 after another strong display for Iceland with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks as they overcame a slow start to defeat the Netherlands 67-66.

Another returning star to national team colors saw Luka Doncic flirt with a triple-double after posting 21 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists as Slovenia cruised past Croatia, 97-69, to book their own place into the Second Round.

Mateusz Ponitka produced an all-round display to help Poland keep their chances alive after contributing 23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals to their dramatic 90-85 triumph over Israel in overtime.

Meanwhile, Aleksandar Vezenkov rounds out the lineup despite coming up agonizingly short in a losing effort for Bulgaria. The 26-year-old forward posted 29 points along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks as his side fell to a 72-70 loss at home to Lithuania.

FIBA