Luka shines again: Doncic’s all-around performance leads Slovenia past Hachimura and Japan / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA

Luka Doncic and Slovenia (2-0) secured their second victory and clinched a place in the quarterfinal of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Photo gallery

Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA Credit: FIBA

In their second Group C game, Slovenians 116-81 (29-23, 24-18, 27-23, 36-17) beat the host Japan (0-2), which is yet to secure its first win.

In 26 minutes, Doncic scored 25 points (6/7 2PT, 2/8 3PT, 7/10 FT), and added 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 33 EFF.

“Luka is one of the four or five best players in the world, and he feels comfortable in FIBA rules,” Japan's head coach Julio Lamas said about the Slovenian star. “He creates the game for all the other players, has the size, the vision, to prepare the game for others to have an advantage. I haven't seen one player dominate a tournament over the last 30 years like he's dominating here."

Slovenia took the advantage at the end of the second quarter. Edo Muric made a layup, Mike Tobey finished the alley-oop, Klemen Prepelic added a 3-pointer, and after 11-4 run, Slovenians led 51-38.

Slovenians closed the game after halftime. Doncic made a turnaround jumper, Zoran Dragic added a layup, Tobey finished a powerful slam, and Slovenia’s lead ballooned to 20 points (72-52).

Japan managed to cut the deficit to 14 points (66-80) in the fourth quarter, but Doncic, Jaka Blazic, and Vlatko Cancar knocked down 3-pointers, and Slovenia was leading 100-73.

One of the positives for Japan was a stellar Rui Hachimura’s performance. The Washington Wizards forward finished the game with 34 points (10/22 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 5/7 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 29 EFF.

"It's not only Luka. That team actually has a lot of guys who can score, who can hoop,” Hachimura said after the game. “We were expecting it, but they are a great team. They beat us. It was a tough one."

Player of the Game EFF 29 Luka Doncic Points 25 Accuracy 8-15 Rebounds 7 Assists 7

For the winners, Dragic added 24 points (8/10 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 2/3 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 27 EFF.

"Offensively, that's another great game for us,” said Slovenia's head Aleksander Sekulic. “I think we showed our power together as a team; having 27 assists and 54 rebounds say something about this team, and I'm very proud of them.”

“My players played hard for 40 minutes to build the lead we had at the end. Big respect for Japan, especially (Yuta) Watanabe and (Rui) Hachimura, they played an amazing game, it was really hard to stop them,” added the head coach of Slovenia.

In their final group game, Slovenia will play against Spain, while Japan will meet Argentina.

Slovenia: Luka Doncic 25 (6/7 2PT, 2/8 3PT, 7/10 FT, 7 REB, 7 AST, 2 BLK, 33 EFF), Zoran Dragic 24 (8/10 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 27 EFF), Vlatko Cancar 16 (3/3 3PT), Klemen Prepelic 12 (2/9 3PT, 5 AST), Jaka Blazic 10 (2/7 3PT).Japan: Rui Hachimura 34 (10/22 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 5/7 FT, 7 REB, 29 EFF), Yuta Watanabe 17 (4/9 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 7 REB, 2 BLK), Makoto Hiejima 10 (2/4 3PT, 2 BLK), Yuki Togashi 8 (2/5 3PT).

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.