The basketball world holds its breath as two NBA superstars prepare for battle. Nikola Jokić leads Serbia into their biggest EuroBasket 2025 test yet, while Lauri Markkanen and Finland stand ready to pull off the upset. With the knockout rounds now underway, every possession matters in what promises to be a clash of contrasting styles.
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How Will Jokić and Markkanen Match Up in the Paint?
Serbia vs. Finland is slated to tip off at 2:45 PM ET in Riga, Latvia. Fans in the United States can watch the game on Courtside 1891, FIBA’s official streaming site for the tournament. All games of the EuroBasket can be viewed through DAZN on the Courtside app.
The contest will focus on two of the best big men in the NBA. While Jokić has been his usual MVP self throughout the tournament, Markkanen has put together an impressive run for Finland. The Utah Jazz star currently sits third in tournament scoring with 25.4 points per game, showcasing the form that made him an NBA All-Star.
Last week, Markkanen exploded for 43 points against Britain in a performance that announced Finland as a legitimate threat. His scoring barrage came in just 23 minutes as Finland rolled to a comprehensive 109-79 victory, leaving no doubt about their ability to compete with Europe’s elite.
However, Serbia enters Saturday’s showdown as the overwhelming favorite despite Markkanen’s impressive tournament run. Jokić has been putting up his typical dominant numbers, averaging 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while orchestrating Serbia’s offense with his usual brilliance.
Serbia will face this challenge without star guard Bogdan Bogdanović, who suffered a devastating torn hamstring against Portugal that ended his tournament. The injury robbed Serbia of a key scorer and playmaker, but the team still has enough talent surrounding Jokić to handle Finland’s challenge.
What Did Kristaps Porziņģis Learn From Battling Jokić?
The difficulty of facing Jokić became crystal clear when Kristaps Porziņģis shared his experience after their recent matchup. The Latvia and Atlanta Hawks star didn’t mince words when describing what it’s like to guard the Serbian center.
Per Yahoo! Sports, Porziņģis described his matchup against Jokić as simply “tough.”
“He’s so crafty around the rim. He has such a big body, but such soft hands around the rim. His basketball IQ is on a different level. It was a battle all night long — he probably has 30 kilograms on me. I was battling him as much as I could, and overall, I think it was a fun battle.”
That “fun battle” resulted in Jokić completely taking over the game against Latvia. The Denver Nuggets star posted a scintillating 39-point double-double that left no doubt about his dominance. He shot an efficient 15 of 26 from the field, connected on one of four three-point attempts, and went perfect from the free-throw line at 8-8.
Jokić’s complete stat line that night included 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, showing the all-around impact that makes him so difficult to contain. The performance served as a reminder of why many consider him the best center in the world.
Beyond this marquee matchup, the NBA world has been watching other superstars make their mark on EuroBasket 2025. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to lead Greece through the knockout rounds, while Luka Dončić guides Slovenia in their pursuit of European glory. Both stars will take center stage on Sunday when Greece faces Israel and Slovenia battles Italy in what promises to be another thrilling day of international basketball.