On Friday-evening, Luxembourg played the first out of 4 games in the bubble in Portugal in the second round of the FIBA 2023 World Cup qualification tournament. Portugal showed its full potential and strength in the first half of the game and finally won, the final score was 74:83. Luxembourg showed a good reaction in the third quarter and reduced the deficit, but it was not enough to get fully back into the game.
Starting 5:
Gutenkauf, Grün, Laurent, Vujakovic, Rugg
After a balanced start (10:9-lead for Luxembourg), Portugal went on a run with made shots from outside. The FLBB-squad missed all 7 attempts from behind the arc in the first quarter and trailed 12:21 after 10 minutes.
Portugal hit shots from outside, they scored inside with their strong and tall players and their lead kept increasing. Luxembourg finally hit two outside shots in the last minute of the first half but the FLBB-squad already trailed 28:47 at the break.
Alex Laurent and his teammates came out aggressive in the second half and Luxembourg showed a reaction to cut the opponent’s lead to 13 points twice. After 3-pointers by Kovac and Kalmes, Luxembourg only trailed by 11 points late in the third quarter and there was hope that Luxembourg could turn the game around in the final period.
6 minuts before the end of the game, Guerreiro scored 7 straight points in under a minute to put Portugal up 79:60, it was the decision in this game.
4 players scored 10+ points for Luxembourg:
full game stats and pictures –> box score Portugal – Luxembourg
Other results from the group:
Thursday: Portugal – Sweden 79:77
Next game:
Luxembourg – Sweden on Saturday at 19:00!
Artikel aus der Press:
rtl.lu –> Lëtzebuerg verléiert mat 74:83 géint Portugal
wort.lu –> Luxemburgs Männer ohne Chance
