Serbia rolling over Germany -Euro Basket 2015
serbia-germany-eurobasket-2015
A lay-up from Nemanja Bjelica with just one second remaining broke the German national basketball teams hearts, as Serbia beat the EuroBasket hosts 68-66 on Sunday.
Having won their opening game of the tournament against Iceland, Germany – led by NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki – were looking to make it two wins from two matches in Berlin. Against the last European Championships runner-up, Serbia, it was always going to be a difficult task, though.
The first quarter was tight, as Serbia ended the opening ten mintues of action with a one-point lead, 19-18. Despite holding a five point lead with just three minutes to play before half-time, Germany went into the interval trailing the Serbs 39-38.
In the second-half, the tight affair remained just that, as Dirk Nowitzki – who ended with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds – looked to anchor his team to an unexpected victory. The third quarter ended with Serbia still in the lead, 50-48.
In the decisive final quarter, Serbia began well, stretching their lead to six points, before the hosts mounted a comeback. Six straight points drew the game level with just under five minutes to play and the scores were still level, at 66-all, with just 24 seconds left, after Heiko Schaffartzik – who finished with 11 points – hit a three-point shot. But Bjelica – who ended with 12 points – snatched victory in the final second with his fourth basket of the game.
Germany take on Turkey in their third game of the tournament on Tuesday.
