Lauri Markkanen once again shone brightly as Finland wrapped up their 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup journey on a positive note.
They secured a convincing 90-75 win over Venezuela on the last day of the classification games at the Okinawa Arena, which took place on Saturday.
The forward from the Utah Jazz had a standout performance, scoring 32 points for the second consecutive game, along with contributing 9 rebounds and a block.
His leadership was crucial in the fourth quarter, helping the youthful Susijengi team secure their second consecutive victory after a disappointing First Round.
Markkanen took control of the game when Venezuela narrowed the gap to just six points early in the final period.
He connected on a three-pointer with an assist from Ilari Seppala, initiating a 14-3 scoring run that gave Finland an 85-68 lead with less than four minutes remaining.
Remarkably, Markkanen made 11 of his 12 free-throw attempts and had a shooting accuracy of 9-of-13 from the field, including a 3-of-6 performance from beyond the three-point line.
These impressive stats earned him a remarkable Efficiency (EFF) rating of 33.
“We knew that this is a difficult, different kind of a tea,” said Lassi Tuovi, Head Coach of Finland. “You need to be disciplined. Shooting 47-percent in 15 threes made, they made it a tough night. On the other hand, I really think that defensively, we played the best game of the tournament.
“We found confidence for our basketball today than in the previous games. We’re proud. The wheels are rolling, and we’re moving on with this group. It was a bug tournament for many of us and we’ll take everything we learned with us.”
Watch the game highlights between Finland and Venezuela in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
