Kristaps Porzingis ended his three-point drought in spectacular fashion, scoring 21 points in the first half to lead Latvia to a dominant 78-62 victory over Portugal at Xiaomi Arena on August 31, 2025.
The Latvian Hawk made five three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes after missing his first 14 attempts of the tournament. Latvia improved to 2-2 in Group A while keeping their Round of 16 hopes alive with one game remaining.
Porzingis Finds His Range
Latvia’s struggles through three games centered largely on Porzingis’ cold shooting from deep. That changed dramatically when his 15th three-point attempt finally found the net three minutes into Monday’s contest.
The 30-year-old couldn’t contain his laughter after the shot dropped, pointing to the crowd as 11,000 fans at Xiaomi Arena erupted. From there, Latvia’s offense clicked into gear.
“We got into a nice rhythm. It was an important game we had to win for sure,” Porzingis said after the game. “Hoping for the trajectory to keep going up.”
Porzingis finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in 26 minutes. Latvia outscored Portugal by 25 points during his time on court, showcasing the impact of their star player at full strength.
Early Injury Concerns
Latvia’s dominant performance came despite early setbacks. Arturs Zagars, the team’s primary playmaker, left the game just five minutes in with an apparent injury and didn’t return.
The point guard’s departure forced coach Luca Banchi to adjust his rotation, but Latvia’s depth proved sufficient against Portugal’s undermanned squad.
Andrejs Grazulis remained sidelined with his ankle injury, watching from the bench in street clothes with his right foot in a protective boot.
Second Quarter Explosion
Latvia turned a close 23-22 first-quarter lead into a commanding advantage with a dominant second period. The hosts outscored Portugal 27-7 in the frame, shooting an incredible 11-of-21 from three-point range in the first half.
KP connected on back-to-back three-pointers to give Latvia a 15-point cushion, while Davis Bertans aka The Laser added his own long-range contributions. The ball movement was exceptional — Latvia recorded 14 assists on 17 first-half field goals.
“We have Davis and Kristaps who are able to shoot from beyond human range,” Banchi explained when asked about his team’s 40 three-point attempts.
Rolands Smits provided energy off the bench, converting an and-one opportunity early in the second quarter to help extend Latvia’s lead.
Queta Battles Former Teammate
Portugal’s Neemias Queta, who won an NBA championship alongside Porzingis with the Boston Celtics in 2024, provided the visitors’ most consistent offense. The 7-foot center scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds while going directly at his former teammate.
The matchup between the championship-winning frontcourt partners added intrigue to an otherwise one-sided affair. Queta shot efficiently from the field but couldn’t match Porzingis’ perimeter shooting or overall impact.
Rafael Lisboa led Portugal’s late charge with 17 points, including three made three-pointers, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
Qualification Scenarios
Latvia’s victory keeps them in contention for the Round of 16, though their fate isn’t entirely in their hands. The hosts need Serbia to defeat Czechia in Monday’s final Group A game to guarantee advancement.
If Czechia wins, Latvia would finish tied at 2-3 but could still advance depending on tiebreaker scenarios involving point differential and head-to-head results.
For Portugal, the path remains clear despite the loss. They face Estonia in their final group game Wednesday, with both teams sitting at 1-3. The winner advances to the knockout phase.
“We are alive,” Portuguese coach Mario Gomes said succinctly when asked about his team’s tournament prospects.
Looking Ahead
Latvia’s breakthrough shooting performance provides optimism heading into the tournament’s crucial final stages. After struggling offensively in losses to Türkiye and Serbia, Sunday’s display showed their potential when shots fall.
The injury situation bears monitoring, particularly with Zagars’ status unclear for upcoming games. Latvia’s depth will be tested if key players remain unavailable during the knockout phase.
Porzingis appears to have found his tournament rhythm at the perfect time. His 25-point performance included 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range, suggesting the early struggles were merely an adjustment period.
“We fought until the end. We had a good fourth quarter, and the Portugal team that played that quarter is the Portugal team that’s going to play on Wednesday,” Lisboa said, looking ahead to the decisive Estonia matchup.
With one group game remaining, Latvia has positioned themselves for a potential deep tournament run on home soil. The crowd support at Xiaomi Arena continues to provide a significant advantage for the hosts.
The tournament’s knockout phase begins September 6, in Riga, with Latvia hoping to extend their home-court advantage through the medal rounds.
