Douglas's 32 points not enough as Slovenia edge France
Maidy Douglas delivered a scintillating offensive display, pouring in 32 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough to prevent Slovenia from securing a nail-biting 91-89 win at the Arena Stožice. The Slovenians, who held a slim 47-52 lead at halftime, saw France battle back to a 70-70 tie entering the final period. The momentum shifted significantly in the third quarter, which Slovenia edged 23-18, before a tense final frame saw the hosts cling to a two-point victory. France's potent bench attack, highlighted by Douglas's scoring outburst and the combined 25 points from Yohann Sissoko and Oscar Wembanyama, kept them in contention. However, Slovenia's superior shooting efficiency, hitting 13-of-28 threes (46%), and a commanding 24 assists to France's 15 proved decisive. Mark Padjen spearheaded Slovenia's attack with 25 points and six assists, with Filip Petkovski and Samed Grosic contributing 14 and 11 points respectively. This crucial win provides Slovenia with significant momentum moving forward in the tournament.