Serbia’s national basketball team defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 94–81 in the final game of the first round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
At no point during the game was the winner ever in doubt. The opening quarter made it clear that Serbia had started the contest with great intensity, while its offense immediately found its rhythm, with every player unselfishly looking for the extra pass. The result was an early double-digit lead for Serbia.
By halftime, Serbia had been outstanding from both two-point and three-point range, had shot a perfect percentage from the free-throw line, and dominated the boards as well as the assist column.
The team’s only brief “slump” came at the beginning of the second half. Bosnia and Herzegovina responded with a 2–8 run, prompting head coach Dušan Alimpijević to call a timeout. The response was immediate, as Nikola Jović knocked down two three-pointers in quick succession.
Đurišić Provides a Spark Off the Bench
Against Switzerland, Serbia had received valuable scoring from Tanasković and Momirov off the bench. This time, it was Nikola Đurišić who stood out, joining namesakes Jović and Jokić in leading Serbia. Aleksa Avramović also made an important contribution in the final quarter, helping the team maintain its comfortable lead.
Those four players led the scoring, but every player who stepped onto the floor played an important role, particularly on the defensive end. Momirov, Lakić, Tanasković, Davidovac, Novak, and the rest all contributed to Serbia’s disciplined team defense.
Nikola Jović finished as the game’s leading scorer with 32 points, shooting 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Nikola Jokić recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Nikola Đurišić consistently complemented the duo and finished with 16 points. Serbia ended the game shooting 14-of-39 from three-point range while also recording 30 assists.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luka Garza led the way with 16 points.
Looking beyond the final score, it was Serbia’s approach and style of play that stood out the most. This was the kind of Serbian national team basketball fans always want to see on the court. Whether it was the influence of Nikola Jokić, the energy of the home crowd, or the new head coach having an exceptionally talented roster at his disposal, the result was the same.
Call it whatever you like—this Serbian team looks outstanding, and with performances like this, it should have no trouble securing its ticket to the World Cup in Qatar.
Source: Sport klub Foto: ATA Images