Nikola Jokic delivered a career-high 39 points to lead Serbia to an 84-80 victory over Latvia in front of 11,000 passionate fans at Xiaomi Arena.
The three-time NBA MVP torched Latvia’s defense for his highest-ever scoring performance in a Serbia jersey, adding 10 rebounds in a dominant display that secured Serbia’s third consecutive win and guaranteed their Round of 16 spot.
Despite playing in a hostile environment with the crowd firmly against them, Serbia weathered Latvia’s late surge to maintain their perfect Group A record. The result drops Latvia to 1-2, though they showed tremendous fight in the tournament’s most electric atmosphere so far.
Jokic Dominates Early
Serbia’s game plan became clear from the opening minutes. With Latvia opting to defend Jokic one-on-one rather than sending help, the Denver Nuggets star took full advantage of every matchup thrown at him.
After scoring just 2 and 4 points respectively in the first quarters of Serbia’s previous games, Jokic exploded for 12 points in the opening frame alone. He continued his assault in the second quarter, reaching 19 points by halftime on 14 field goal attempts.
Latvia tried everything to slow him down. Andrejs Grazulis started on him for the first 90 seconds before suffering an injury. Kristaps Porzingis, Rolands Smits, and Klavs Cavars all took their turns, but none could contain the three-time MVP.
The closest Latvia came to stopping Jokic was when he suffered a nasty fall in the first half, briefly leaving the game with a bleeding elbow. But he returned quickly and picked up where he left off.
Electric Atmosphere
Xiaomi Arena provided the backdrop for one of EuroBasket 2025’s most intense atmospheres. The 11,000 mostly Latvian fans created a wall of sound that had players feeding off the energy throughout.
The crowd reached peak intensity when Davis Bertans knocked down a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, cutting Serbia’s lead to just four points with 1:45 remaining. The arena erupted again when Arturs Kurucs buried a corner three to make it 82-80 with under a minute to play.
Serbian fans behind their team’s bench countered with “MVP” chants for Jokic throughout, creating a fascinating audio battle that captured the game’s intensity.
Latvia’s Valiant Effort
Despite the loss, Latvia showed the offensive flow that made them so dangerous at the 2023 World Cup. Davis Bertans led the home team with 16 points, including several clutch threes that kept the crowd on their feet.
Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks despite foul trouble that limited his impact. The Atlanta Hawks forward now has 17 blocks in EuroBasket competition — the most of any Latvian player in the 21st century.
Arturs Zagars orchestrated the offense with 6 assists, while Rihards Lomazs provided 13 points and 4 assists in a solid all-around performance.
Clutch Time Drama
The final minutes provided heart-stopping drama. Serbia held a 10-point advantage for much of the game, thanks partly to six three-pointers from their left-handed trio of Marko Guduric, Aleksa Avramovic, and Ognjen Dobric.
But Latvia refused to go quietly. Bertans’ deep three with 1:45 left sparked the comeback attempt, and when Kurucs hit his corner three to make it a two-point game, Xiaomi Arena reached deafening levels.
Jokic responded with ice in his veins, drawing a foul with 51 seconds remaining and calmly sinking both free throws to seal the victory. Neither team scored in the final 40 seconds as Serbia held on for the win.
Key Numbers
- 39 points: Jokic’s career-high with Serbia, surpassing his previous best of 32 points against Italy in 2022
- 42-22: Serbia’s advantage in points in the paint, a crucial stat that highlighted their interior dominance
- Efficient shooting: Jokic’s dominance from the field throughout the game
- 95.7%: Latvia’s free throw percentage (22-of-23), showing their composure under pressure
What’s Next
Serbia moves to 3-0 and has secured their Round of 16 spot regardless of their final two group games. They’ve established themselves as legitimate title contenders with this performance.
Latvia drops to 1-2 but showed they can compete with anyone when their offense flows. They face crucial games against Portugal and Czechia to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
The loss stings for the home crowd, but Latvia proved they belong on this stage. With Porzingis healthy and the team finding its rhythm, they remain dangerous heading into their final group games.
“Obviously, Jokic is the best player in the world,” Davis Bertans said after the game, summing up the challenge Latvia faced against the unstoppable Serbian superstar.
