Their fate is still in their hands as two teams can progress from Group A, as the top team and the best second-placed side advance to the next pre-qualifying round.
But this will be a concern for head coach Michael Bree, having picked a strong side with CJ Fulton returning from the Iowa Wolves and Neal Quinn back from France’s top flight.
Furthermore, Ireland have beaten Azerbaijan recently, winning 91-67 in November 2024 in Dublin and 79-64 away in Baku last year in the previous European campaign.
To make matters worse, the visitors won despite losing their top scorer Wesley Van Beck (20) after he fouled out of the game following a collision with Sam Alajiki just after half-time.
Alajiki finished the game heavily bandaged from the clash with the Texan-born guard – a sight that summed up this defeat in Tallaght.
Captain Seán Flood, who was Ireland’s top scorer (18), hit a last-gasp two-pointer to bring this game to within a point, but there was little time left to complete the comeback.
Before tip-off, Fulton’s introduction was greeted with the loudest cheer, and the Belfast man showed the class that earned him his place with the Iowa Wolves in the NBA G League this season.
The point guard displayed all his game intelligence in setting up 11 scores in Tallaght and registered seven points on the night.
Flood got Ireland off the mark with three free throws and a three-pointer, but the opening period was much closer than Bree would have liked.
They entered the second quarter just ahead at 19-18, having converted just two of nine attempted three-pointers, while the visitors hit three from six in the opening spell.
It was an omen of things to come, and they ended the game converting just 30pc of attempted threes to Azerbaijan’s 50pc.
Ireland tried to assert themselves with three-pointers from Jordan Blount, Matt Zona and Alajiki in the first five minutes of the second period.
CJ Fulton of Ireland in action against Wesley van Beck of Azerbaijan during the Fiba EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifier at the National Basketball Arena. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Fulton gave Ireland hope when he found Alajiki in the corner for the Dundalk man’s three, however, Azerbaijan began to reel them in with Van Beck leading the way.
Van Beck had scored 14 points of his tally by half-time, helping the visitors begin the second half with a 41-35 lead.
Van Beck continued to power Azerbaijan forward and got two three-pointers early in the third quarter, but the game’s top scorer was soon fouled out of the game.
The point guard, who had amassed 20 points, got his marching orders after picking up an unsportsmanlike foul when colliding with Alajiki.
The incident also forced Ireland’s top scorer to leave the court for a short period, before Alajiki returned with over a minute to spare, wearing a bandage on the side of his face.
Van Beck may have gone, but Ireland had other worries. They struggled to deal with the six-foot-nine Saadettin Donat and sharpshooting Kamran Mammadov (18).
The hosts began the last period 59-54 behind. Alajiki tried to start the final-quarter fightback with a dunk inside the opening minute before Matt Zona’s three-pointer made Ireland believe again.
Flood put Ireland ahead again from a free, but captain Amil Hamzayev’s three-pointer stole back the momentum.
The Ireland captain brought the game to within a point with a late three and last-gasp two, but by that stage the race was run.
They next face Luxembourg on Monday in Dublin, hoping for a better result.