{"id":94698,"date":"2025-08-29T08:46:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T08:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=94698"},"modified":"2025-08-29T08:46:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T08:46:07","slug":"luka-doncics-record-smashing-eurobasket-heroics-cant-save-slovenia-from-polands-shocking-upset-the-lakers-stars-dazzling-display-gets-eclipsed-by-a-hostil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=94698","title":{"rendered":"Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s Record-Smashing EuroBasket Heroics Can\u2019t Save Slovenia from Poland\u2019s Shocking Upset. The Lakers\u2019 Star\u2019s Dazzling Display Gets Eclipsed by a Hostile Home Crowd\u2019s Ruthless Triumph. Fans Are Reeling from This Court-Crushing Twist"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"l-article__header\">\n<h3 class=\"c-headline c-headline--extra-large entry-title\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Makes EuroBasket History, But Slovenia Stunned by Poland<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"l-article__content\">\n<div class=\"c-content entry-content\">\n<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"has-video wp-caption \">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1423713924-e1756430785601.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1423713924-e1756430785601.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1423713924-e1756430785601.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1423713924-e1756430785601.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Luka Doncic, Lakers\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-img-load-time=\"4176\" data-dom-ready-time=\"8929\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0star\u00a0Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u00a0made EuroBasket history on Thursday, but his heroics were not enough to prevent Slovenia from falling 105-95 to host nation Poland.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u010di\u0107 became the first player in EuroBasket history to record 30 or more points, five or more assists, and five or more steals in a single game,\u00a0according to BasketNews. He led all scorers with 34 points, adding nine assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two blocks over 36 minutes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ff496e082aa881c7c25f378a773553ac\" class=\"embed_container\">\n<div class=\"lazy-embed lazy-embed--ssr embed-instagram-com lazy-embed--loaded\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN6eMYtCvoG\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\"><iframe id=\"instagram-embed-0\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN6eMYtCvoG\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=656&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com&amp;rp=%2Fsports%2Fnba%2Flos-angeles-lakers%2Fluka-eurobasket-history%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A79093.70000000112%7D\" height=\"1132\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Slovenian star was dominant offensively, making seven of 14 field-goal attempts while going 17-for-18 from the free-throw line. His 17 made free throws were the most by any player in a EuroBasket game since Juan Carlos Navarro hit 18 against Croatia 20 years ago.<\/p>\n<div id=\"bc64495913970bee3f40c362ee45ff26\" class=\"embed_container\">\n<div class=\"lazy-embed lazy-embed--ssr embed-instagram-com lazy-embed--loaded\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN6dR1UigVX\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\"><iframe id=\"instagram-embed-1\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN6dR1UigVX\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=656&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com&amp;rp=%2Fsports%2Fnba%2Flos-angeles-lakers%2Fluka-eurobasket-history%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A79108.20000000112%7D\" height=\"1132\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Luka\u2019s Frustration<\/h2>\n<p>Despite Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s historic outing, Slovenia struggled to find scoring support. Forwards Edo Muric and Gregor Hrovat contributed 17 and 15 points, respectively, but the team could not close the gap as Poland built and maintained a lead for nearly the entire contest.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u010di\u0107 remains the lone NBA player on the Slovenian roster, which was missing several key contributors, including Josh Nebo, Vlatko \u010can\u010dar, Jaka Bla\u017ei\u010d, and Zoran Dragi\u0107.<\/p>\n<p>Frustrations boiled over with 7:33 remaining when Don\u010di\u0107 exchanged heated words with Poland\u2019s center Dominik Olejniczak after a floor tussle.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cNothing happened, nothing happened. It\u2019s just basketball, you know,\u201d\u00a0Olejniczak told BasketNews. \u201cFirst game of the tournament, it\u2019s just emotions. Nothing happened really. There\u2019s nothing to talk about.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Poland was led by American-born naturalized player Jordan Loyd, who scored 32 points on 7-of-8 three-point shooting. Forward Mateusz Ponitka added 23 points and seven rebounds, while point guard Andrzej Pluta finished with 15 points, three assists, and two steals. Center Aleksander Balcerowski chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, and a block.<\/p>\n<h2>Lakers Show Support for Don\u010di\u0107<\/h2>\n<p>Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s performance came in front of a Los Angeles Lakers contingent led by team governor Jeanie Buss and team president Rob Pelinka.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWe just wanted to make a statement to Luka that we support what he does for his country,\u201d\u00a0Pelinka told The Athletic\u2019s Dan Woike\u00a0before the game. \u201cThat\u2019s really important to the Lakers when we have a player that\u2019s the face of our franchise, just to show that support for him. And it\u2019s just great to see him with his teammates, interacting, having fun.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Pelinka added in a separate interview that Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s passion for the Slovenian jersey underscores his leadership qualities.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cJeanie and I talked to Luka and he realizes that he is the leader of this team,\u201d Pelinka told reporters, per Slovenia\u2019s Ekipa newspaper. \u201cHe quickly lets you know how much pride he feels in the national team jersey. We are aware that he is the first star of this national team; we believe in that too. As long as he feels the passion for the basketball he plays, it can only be good.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Daunting Challenge Ahead<\/h2>\n<p>Slovenia now faces an uphill climb in the tournament, with its next opponent being one of the favorites, France, on Saturday. Don\u010di\u0107 remains committed to representing his country despite the challenges.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s an easy choice,\u201d he told Woike before the Poland game. \u201cI always want to represent my country. Always did. No matter what.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And the Lakers have no problem with their franchise star pushing himself hard in this tournament ahead of fall\u2019s NBA training camp.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cZero problems,\u201d Pelinka told Woike. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s just something that we believe in for the Lakers organization.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Though Slovenia fell short, Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s historic outing highlighted his elite talent and unwavering dedication. The team will need more contributions from its supporting cast if it hopes to recover and make a deeper run in the tournament.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Makes EuroBasket History, But Slovenia Stunned by Poland Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0star\u00a0Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u00a0made EuroBasket history on Thursday, but his heroics were not enough to prevent Slovenia&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":94701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s Record-Smashing EuroBasket Heroics Can\u2019t Save Slovenia from Poland\u2019s Shocking Upset. 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