Former Boston Celtics forward Luigi Datome helped his Italian National Team send Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and his Serbian National Team home with a 94-86 win in the knockout phase of the 2022 European Basketball Championship (commonly referred to as the EuroBasket).
The Boston alum came off of the bench to put up a solid 6 points, 1 rebound, and 2 steals in just over 14 minutes of playing time in the victory for Italy, Datome part of the Italian National Team’s solution for also having lost Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari to an ACL tear. The Montebelluna shot an efficient 2-of-4 from the field overall, 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Datome picked up no personal fouls in the tilt, nor did he turn the ball over even once in his time on the floor for Italy.
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In a game that saw Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco ejected with a second technical foul in the game’s third quarter, it was an impressive win. Italy will now advance to the round of eight with the win, its EuroBasket title hopes still alive.
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