Slovenia, Luka Doncic torch Argentina in Olympics debut
Slovenia’s Luka Doncic reacts during the men’s preliminary round group C basketball match between Argentina and Slovenia of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)
TOKYO—The Slovenian men’s basketball team rolled past Argentina 118-100 in their Olympic debut on Monday as Luka Doncic scored 48 points to come close to breaking the single-game scoring record for the tournament.
Argentina may have the Olympics pedigree, with a gold and a bronze medal to their name, but newcomers Slovenia showed no hesitation out of the gate, taking an early lead on four straight three-pointers including three by Doncic.
Article continues after this advertisementBy half-time Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks star, already had 31 points, accounting for half of his team’s scoring as they led 62-42 and never looked back.
Luka Doncic Olympics debut:
31 PTS
8 REB
3 AST
4 3PT
11-17 FGin the first half. pic.twitter.com/AVXkjf4obY
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 26, 2021
Doncic finished on 18 for 29 shooting, including six three-pointers, and added 11 rebounds and five assists.
Article continues after this advertisementLuis Scola, playing in his fifth Olympics for Argentina, led his team with 23 points.
Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt holds the single-game record with 55 points set in 1988 versus Spain. Doncic’s 48 points ties him for second place with Australia’s Eddie Palubinskas in 1976.
