The men's national basketball team of Slovenia competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The team was captained by Edo MuriÃÂ, while the Dallas Mavericks star Luka DonÃÂiÃÂ became the third best scorer and the best assist provider of the tournament; he was also included in the FIBA All-Star team of the tournament. This was the first appearance of Slovenia's basketball team at the Olympics.
Slovenia went undefeated in the group stage with three victories out of three games. In the quarter-finals, they eliminated Germany, before being stopped by France in the semi-finals in a close match, decided in the last seconds. In the bronze medal match, Slovenia lost to Australia, finishing the tournament in fourth place.
Slovenia qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics after competing in the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, winning the tournament in Kaunas. They won all games in the Group B, defeating Poland and Angola. Klemen Prepeliàand Luka DonÃÂiàled Slovenia to a 112âÂÂ77 victory over Poland, scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively. In the Final round, they defeated Venezuela 98âÂÂ70 in the semi-final, and were set to play against Lithuania in the final. DonÃÂiàwent close to triple-double against Venezuela, scoring 23 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds. Slovenia defeated Lithuania 96âÂÂ85 in Kaunas, led by DonÃÂià(31 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists), who with his triple-double sent Slovenia to their first Olympic appearance. On the other hand, Lithuania missed their first Olympics since the independence in 1990. DonÃÂiàwas presented with the MVP award by Arvydas Sabonis after the win.
Slovenia competed in Group C in the opening round. Teams played in a round-robin format with the top three teams advancing to the quarter-finals. Slovenia ended group play with 3âÂÂ0, and finished as the group's top seed.
In the opening game, Slovenia beat Argentina 118âÂÂ100, with strong performances by Luka DonÃÂià(48 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists), Klemen Prepelià(22 points), and Mike Tobey (11 points and 14 rebounds). With his 48 points in this game, DonÃÂiàtied with Eddie Palubinskas for the second highest points scored in a match in the history of the Olympics.
In the next game, Slovenia defeated host Japan 116âÂÂ81. DonÃÂiàhad another good performance, scoring 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in 26 minutes, while Zoran Dragiàscored 24 points. After the game, Japan coach Julio Lamas remarked: "They played better than us, all the game. They are a very good team, very complete team with one amazing player."
After winning their first two games in the competition, Slovenia faced Spain, the reigning world champions, and defeated them 95âÂÂ87. In the game, DonÃÂiàsuffered a box-and-one defense employed by Spain to curtail him. Prepeliàentered the match late in the first quarter and, like DonÃÂiÃÂ, received box-and-one defense from Sergio Llull while DonÃÂiàwas on the bench. DonÃÂiàwas one point too short of getting triple double, scoring 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. Tobey, who was Slovenia's top performer of the game and was named player of the day by FIBA, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Prepelià(15 points) was the hero of the game, scoring the crucial three-pointer that put Slovenia ahead 86âÂÂ85 two and a half minutes before the end. A minute and a half before the end he intercepted a ball and sent Tobey an alley-hoop which he dunked to close the game. Vlatko ÃÂanÃÂar also scored 22 points.
The win gave Slovenia the group's top seed.
Slovenia won their quarter-final, defeating Germany 94âÂÂ70. DonÃÂiàagain dominated the court, but Tobey, PrepeliÃÂ, ÃÂanÃÂar and Dragiàwere also praised for their performances. Slovenia was somewhat imprecise in the first half. They won the first quarter but lost the second, and Germany even surpassed them 32âÂÂ31, with both DonÃÂiàand Prepeliàerring.
PrepeliÃÂ and DonÃÂiÃÂ gave the final blow to Germany, putting an advantage of 19 points in the middle of the fourth quarter. PrepeliÃÂ scored one three-pointer, then attempted two more times from behind the line and scored both times.
DragiÃÂ led all scorers with 27 points. He closed the first half with a three-pointer and opened the second with another one, while Tobey recorded another double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. DonÃÂiÃÂ again went near a triple double, scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists.
Slovenia lost the dramatic semi-final against France by one point, 90âÂÂ89. The match seemed over for Slovenia when Jaka Blaà ¾iàmissed a three point jumper and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot made it 90âÂÂ85 for the French, with less than a minute left to play. However, PrepeliÃÂ, who in a few seconds managed to score four points, brought Slovenia to just one point of France. Next, Nando de Colo missed a layup and Slovenia had the match point. DonÃÂiàrenounced to shoot, and turned the clutch shoot over to PrepeliÃÂ, who attempted a layup but was stopped by a block by six-inch taller Nicolas Batum. After the game, Rudy Gobert stated that Batum's game-saving play was "one of the best blocks he had ever seen." DonÃÂiàscored 16 points (and also went triple double), while Tobey and Prepeliàscored 23 and 17 points, respectively.
Slovenia played the bronze medal game against Australia, which they lost 107âÂÂ93 to the Boomers. Australia got off early, taking a 9âÂÂ2 lead after three minutes and a half. Slovenia initially passed Australia 15âÂÂ13 with a three-pointer by PrepeliÃÂ. However, from a score of 17âÂÂ13, Australia passed them again with a three-pointer by Chris Goulding and a jumper by Patty Mills, who scored 26 points in the first half. In the third quarter, Prepeliàbrought Slovenia within 60âÂÂ66 with less than four minutes left in the period, converting a four-point play. He and DonÃÂiàscored again, but Mills and Joe Ingles responded, with the score now at 64âÂÂ75.
Slovenia didn't give up, and a free throw and a layup by Blaà ¾iàand five points from Prepeliàbrought them five points of the Boomers. DonÃÂiÃÂ, who finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, endeavored to bring Slovenia back into the game. Prepeliàbrought the score to 75âÂÂ81 with a layup just before Australia's time-out. He then scored another three-pointer, and DonÃÂiàa layup, for a score of 80âÂÂ83. However, Australia managed to take ten points of advantage again. Subsequently, ÃÂanÃÂar made an offensive foul on Dante Exum, who then scored a three point jumper. DonÃÂiàscored a three-pointer, but Mills went on to reach his 40th point and Ingles scored a three-pointer. Slovenia then failed some attempts to keep the game alive, and Australia went over 100 points, eventually winning the game. Prepeliàscored 18 points and 2 assists and approached a double-double with 7 rebounds. He was Slovenia's top performer of the game.
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