Portugal’s dream run at EuroBasket, sparked by a historic victory—their first in 18 years—came crashing down this weekend as the team dropped to 1-2 in Group A play. A devastating 95-54 loss to an unbeaten Turkey squad on Saturday exposed Portugal’s struggles, with Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta emerging as the lone beacon of hope in a lopsided defeat.
Queta fought valiantly, leading Portugal with 15 points and seven rebounds in just 23 minutes. His dominance at the free-throw line was unmatched, as he converted 7-of-9 attempts, a game-high. Yet, his efforts were not enough to counter Portugal’s dismal 30 percent shooting from the field and a staggering 21 turnovers, which Turkey capitalized on with ruthless efficiency.
The matchup pitted Queta against Houston Rockets’ rising star Alperen Sengun, who outshone the Celtics big man. Sengun powered Turkey to a knockout-round berth with an impressive 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, paired with seven rebounds and five assists. The performance underscored Turkey’s depth and dominance, leaving Portugal reeling.
This blowout followed a tough Friday loss to Serbia, where Queta faced another formidable NBA foe, Nikola Jokic. The Serbian superstar and NBA MVP candidate overwhelmed Portugal with 23 points and 10 rebounds in an 80-69 victory. Queta, limited to 21 minutes, struggled to make an impact, managing just six points and two rebounds against the Denver Nuggets’ juggernaut.
Despite these setbacks, Portugal’s EuroBasket journey is far from over. With two Group A games remaining, Queta and his squad have a chance to rebound and secure a historic spot in the round of 16. Their next challenge comes Monday at 11 a.m. ET against Latvia, led by former Celtics teammate Kristaps Porzingis. Portugal will then face Estonia on Wednesday to close out group play.
Currently locked in a three-way tie for third place in Group A alongside Latvia and Estonia, Portugal’s path to the knockout round hinges on an upset. While Latvia faces a softer schedule, including a matchup against winless Czech Republic, a victory over Estonia could propel Portugal to their first-ever round-of-16 appearance in EuroBasket.
Queta, the heart and soul of this Portuguese squad, will need to summon every ounce of his NBA-caliber talent to rally his teammates. After breaking an 18-year winless streak, Portugal stands at a crossroads. Can Queta lead them to defy the odds and etch their name in EuroBasket history? The stage is set for a thrilling finish.