Markkanen Leads Finland Past Hungary in Qualifier
Finland secured a hard-fought 85-77 victory over Hungary in FIBA World Cup Qualifying play. Holding a slim 48-43 lead at halftime, the Finns seized control in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 26-15 to build a commanding 74-58 advantage entering the final period. This decisive run, bolstered by a potent bench that contributed 42 points, allowed Finland to overcome Hungary's higher field goal percentage (33/70 FG) with superior ball security and more effective three-point shooting (11/26 3P). Lauri Markkanen spearheaded the Finnish offense with 23 points, and reserve Edon Maxhuni provided a crucial spark with 20 points. Hungary, despite 18-point efforts from Gyorgy Goloman and Zoltan Perl, couldn't find the consistency to mount a comeback. This win provides significant momentum for Finland in their qualifying campaign.