Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen Has Shot at History in EuroBasket

Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen and Finland have officially discovered their matchup on the horizon in this year's EuroBasket quarter-finals: they'll be facing Georgia.

Following Georgia's victory over France in the Round of 16 matchup on Sunday, 80-70, Georgia has advanced to the final eight teams in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament.

It was an impressive performance on Georgia's behalf to put together another eye-catching Round of 16 upset over a talented France squad, one that's without the services of Victor Wembanyama in this year's tourney.

But, despite still facing multiple NBA names like Guerschon Yabusele, Bilal Coulibaly, and Zaccharie Risacher still being on board, France falls short, while Georgia advances.

ANOTHER UPSET IN #EUROBASKET 😱

Georgia eliminates France and advances to the quarter finals for the first time in its history 🇬🇪🤯

France - Georgia 70-80 pic.twitter.com/BqrQ8SdwDx
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 7, 2025

Georgia has had an interesting run so far throughout their time in this year's tourney. Led by Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, they finished the group stage with a 2-3 record, falling to Greece, Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, they still made enough headway to reach the knockout round of the tourney, taking down France in a double-digit victory, and now preparing to face a red-hot Markkanen and Finland, who have a game of historic proportions ahead.

Finland is coming fresh off one of the most notable upsets in recent international basketball history from Saturday's victory over Serbia and two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. With a victory over Georgia, Markkanen and Finland would effectively have the country's best finish in EuroBasket history, besting their historic top-six finish in 1967.

Markkanen after advancing in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament. | via FIBA.co

The last time Finland reached the EuroBasket quarter-finals? That came during the last time Markkanen took the floor in EuroBasket with Finland in 2022, where they navigated to a seventh-place finish in a run that would inevitably be ended by the eventual champions, Spain.

This time around, though, Finland won't have the same type of powerhouse in front of them. Georgia is a relatively beatable team, one that's gone 4-2 so far in the tourney, including the group stage, and may have the means to reach that final four spot, where they would go on to face the winner of Germany and Slovenia.

Markkanen will have a few days rest before the action tips off between Georgia and Finland on Wednesday, September 10th.

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