Despite the injuries of Kristaps Porzingis and then Dairis Bertans, Latvia continues to cut heads!
Because after having pushed France towards the exit in the first round, going up a delay of 14 points in the third quarter against the Blues, Luca Banchi’s team did the same to Spain!
The reigning world and European champions thus led by 12 points in the third quarter, thanks to a 12-0 marked by a complicated 3-pointer from Rudy Fernandez.
Except that as against the Blues, Latvia refused to abdicate to completely return to the game.
Without Kristaps Porzingis or Dairis Bertans…
Two 3-pointers from Kristers Zoriks enabled the Latvians to equalize (61-61) five minutes from the end of the match, Rodions Kurucs also proving to be invaluable in extending the lead to +5 (70-65) in the last two minutes.
Dario Brizuela allowed La Roja to believe it with a 3-pt which brought his team to two points (71-69), especially since Kristers Zoriks missed one of his two free throws in stride. Spain played 2+1 with Dario Brizuela at the floater, but the future FC Barcelona player committed an offensive foul which sealed the defeat.
With this success (74-69), Latvia returns to equality with Spain in this second phase, with three victories for a single defeat. For its first participation (as an independent nation) in a World Cup, the Baltic country is thus in a good position to reach the quarter-finals…
While it must, remember, do without its star, Kristaps Porzingis, and its captain, Dairis Bertans.
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