Israel got off to a rough start in the August World Cup window with a 79-73 loss at Finland as the Blue & White’s chances to advance took a severe hit as they drop to 3-4 in group play. Guy Goodes’s squad had a tough time from both the free throw line and from beyond the arc while Lauri Markkanen showed why he’s an NBA star with 28 points and 9 boards as he out-dueled Deni Avdija who scored just 8 points.

READ: “Playing for Finland means everything to me” NBA star Lauri Markkanen in an exclusive interview with The Sports Rabbi

After a close first quarter, Lassi Tuovi’s team began to pull away as Markkannen and Elias Valtonen helped Finland to a 47-37 lead by halftime. Yam Madar, Tomer Ginat, Roman Sorkin and Nimrod Levi began to chip away at the lead for Guy Goodes’s team but Markkanen and Petteri Koponen were able to score in crunch time to take the win.

Roman Sorkin led Israel with 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Nimrod Levi added 13 points, Yam Madar scored 11 points and Deni Avdija chipped in with 8 points for Israel in the loss that saw them shoot 12/22 from the free throw line and 9/32 from 3-point land. Aside from Markkanen, Valtonen scored 14 points and Koponen 8 points.

Finland tops Group J at 6-1, Germany 5-1, Slovenia 4-2, Israel 3-4, Sweden and Estonia 2-4 as the top 3 teams advance to the World Cup.

“They played the most minutes better than us,” Goodes said. “The game was split into two halves, the first half we didn’t implement our game plan and stopping their 3-point shot as they went 7/14 for 50% and took ten offensive rebounds. In the second half we did a better job and they scored only 2/9 on 3-pointers and had only 2 offensive rebounds and we were able to come back into the game. But we weren’t sharp as our 3-point percentage wasn’t good and we left 10 points on the line. We came up short but we are looking forward to Sunday’s game against Sweden and then we meet Finland again in the first game of the Eurobasket. Our heads are up, we need to learn and move forward.”

“Our discipline was good and we respect Israel as they have been playing well lately,” Tuovi commented. “We countered their up tempo game and we controlled that. But the real key was to keep their fast break points at a minimum and if you would have told me they would have had only 6 fast break points, I would sign up for that any day.”

Nimrod Levi also spoke about the game that was, “I think the first half we didn’t excite the game plan. We know that they are a good 3-point shooting team. In the second half we guarded them better and had a good stretch. It’s a tough loss but now we head to the second game.”

Petteri Koponen also talked about the contest, “Tough game and they played their type of basketball really well. Overall almost all game we did what we had practiced before the match, which was not to allow them to get easy basket and run in transition and that is why we won.”

Deni Avdija and Tomer Ginat put Israel on the board early on, while Lauri Markkanen answered for Finland as the score was all knotted up at 11-11 midway through the first quarter. Israel shot blanks from deep and from the free throw line, Markkanen continued to score, Rafi Menco and Petteri Koponen traded triples as Shawn Huff scored as the shot clock ran down to give the hosts a 22-19 led after ten minutes of play.

Elias Valtonen got hot to start the second quarter, Roman Sorkin and Yam Madar responded with key baskets as did Jake Cohen as Israel grabbed a 30-29 lead with 5:30 left in the first half. Markkanen dunked, Tamir Blatt went from way downtown, Valtonen scored inside and outside, Sasu Salin hit a 3-pointer and the blue-and white continued to miss from beyond the arc as Finland took a 47-37 advantage into halftime.

Olivier Nkamhoua and Salin scored to get the third quarter off and running, Nimrod Levi scored a pair of buckets for Guy Goodes’s squad while Avdija and Levi both went from deep, Markkanen came right back with a 3-point play but Madar and Ginat closed the gap to 58-56 after thirty minutes of action.

Nkamhoua scored a pair of buckets and Koponen went from deep to begin the fourth frame, Levi found Israel’s first points of the quarter and Yovel Zoosman scored his first points of the game but Finland stayed in front 69-63 with 5:30 remaining in regulation time.

Lassi Tuovi’s side scored two quick baskets, Madar dialed up from long distance, Salin and Sorkin traded baskets to pull Israel to within 74-73 with 1:33 left. But Markannen once again scored a 3-point play and Kopenen hit his free throws to wrap up a 79-73 victory.