Serbia Dominates Iceland 102-73 in FIBA World Cup Qualifier

Serbia asserted its dominance over Iceland, securing a commanding 102-73 victory in the seventh round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers at the Belgrade Arena. While Iceland put up a spirited fight, particularly in the early stages, Serbia's superior firepower ultimately proved too much.

The Icelandic team began the game with remarkable energy, scoring the first basket with a three-pointer from Kristinn Pálsson and building an early 5-0 lead. They managed to contain Serbia's stars, Nikola Jokic and Nikola Jovic, throughout the first quarter, ending it with a narrow 27-25 advantage. However, Serbia shifted gears in the second quarter, unleashing a barrage of three-pointers to establish a 12-point lead at 45:33 and heading into halftime with a 52-42 lead.

Iceland showed resilience in the third quarter, managing to narrow the deficit to seven points at 66:59. They even won the quarter by one point, ending it at 70:61. This period highlighted Iceland's ability to compete, but Serbia's depth and talent soon became evident.

In the final quarter, Serbia unleashed its full potential, overwhelming Iceland in the opening minutes. A 15-point lead was established at 78:63, and a subsequent three-pointer extended it to 20 points (83:63). By the final minutes, the score had ballooned to 98:71, showcasing Serbia's dominance and reinforcing their status as one of the world's top national teams. Elvar Már Friðriksson led Iceland with 19 points and five assists, while Martin Hermannsson added 18 points. Jón Axel Guðmundsson grabbed 10 rebounds.