Serbia routs Iceland in World Cup qualifier

Serbia's national basketball team began the second round of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup with a resounding 102-73 victory over Iceland on Friday evening. Playing on home court, the Serbian team overcame a slight deficit after the first quarter to take control of the game.

Iceland started strongly, holding a minimal 27-25 lead after the first quarter. However, Serbia surged in the second period, outscoring Iceland 27-15 to establish a double-digit advantage by halftime, leading 52-42.

Despite Iceland's attempts to rally after the break, Serbia decisively closed out the game in the final quarter. They dominated the last period with a 32-12 run, securing a comfortable win. Nikola Tanasković was the top scorer for Serbia with 23 points in under 19 minutes, earning 24 efficiency points. Nikola Jovičić added 21 points and 19 efficiency points, while Marko Gudurić contributed 17 points and 20 efficiency points.

NBA star Nikola Jokić had a more subdued scoring performance with 6 points but made a significant impact with 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 21 efficiency points. For Iceland, former Vilnius "Rytas" point guard Elvar Fridriksson was the leading scorer with 19 points, and Martin Hermannsson added 18.