The Tall Blacks’ hopes of reaching the Olympics ended after losing to Slovenia in a qualifying tournament in Greece.
New Zealand needed to lose by no more than 11 points to advance on points differential but were defeated 104-78.
In their group, New Zealand, Croatia, and Slovenia all finished with three points. However, Croatia and Slovenia advanced to the semi-finals due to a superior points differential.
NBA star Luka Doncic played a crucial role in Slovenia’s victory, achieving a triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Slovenia started strong with a 12-2 run, but the Tall Blacks fought back in the second quarter, scoring 30 points and narrowing the gap to 49-43 early in the second half.
However, Doncic and Gregor Hrovat led a 13-0 run, pushing Slovenia to a 62-43 lead midway through the third quarter. By the end of the third quarter, Doncic’s three-pointer extended Slovenia’s lead to 77-57, and New Zealand couldn’t recover in the final period.
Shea Ili was a standout for the Tall Blacks, scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Tall Blacks struggled against a dominant Slovenia team and will miss the Olympics.
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