Finland on cruise control as Markkanen has more points than minutes

PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - Lauri Markkanen needed just 18 minutes to get 22 points and guide Finland to a 88-67 win over Netherlands on Thursday and to a 3-2 record in Group D . The Dutch were out of fuel for this one and finish the event at 0-5. 

Finland will move to Berlin for the Round of 16, and will learn their opponent there once all the games in this pool, and in Group C in Milan have concluded, later on Thursday.

Turning point: The initial tip. The Netherlands had their share of good starts to games in FIBA EuroBasket 2022, but this one was not one of them. Finland stormed to a 26-11 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

TCL Player of the Game: Lauri Markkanen played 18:19, scored 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep, and had another team-high in +/- with +22.

Stats don't lie: Finland are a lethal team when they hit 14 threes and have 24 assists in a game. The Netherlands had four threes and 13 assists in those two departments.

Bottom line: Coach Lassi Tuovi enjoyed the perfect execution of his script for this encounter: a stress-free win  with his starters getting a lot of rest. Backed by their 5,000 fans, Finland could be a dangerous squad in Berlin in the Round of 16.

The Netherlands played their hearts out in Prague, but finished without a tick in the  win column. Worthy de Jong had 21 points in his last professional game, signing out on a high. FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak handed him the game ball after the game, to keep the memory of his last official game.

They said:

FIBA