Markkanen leads Finland to another key win in Basketball World Cup qualifiers

[p]Utah Jazz centre [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/markkanen-lauri/G2tXBSSt/"]Markkanen[/a] top scored in the match that was still significant for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/hrkQcWHb/"]Finland[/a] despite having already secured progression from Group G, as results with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/UDBtdAnB/"]Hungary[/a] - should they too progress - will carry over into the into the second round of qualifying.[/p][p]Finland's victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/dS5MsX25/"]France[/a] in December keeps them top of the group on head-to-head record, but after France beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/jk5QtiIB/"]Belgium[/a] 80-72 also on Friday, the two will face off for top spot in the group and two more points to take through when they meet in Pau on Monday 6th July.[/p][p]It looked like Finland were in for a difficult evening at home, finding themselves 18-13 down after the first quarter, [b]but they came roaring back in a 60-point second quarter, taking it 35-25 to open a five-point lead at the half.[/b][/p][embed guid="f7006af2-69ab-4349-811b-6db2592bd081" url="https://x.com/EuroBasket/status/2073046181328847223" social-type="twitter" /][p]The third quarter was even better for the Wolfpack, who extended their advantage to 16 points with 10 minutes to play, making a late Hungarian rally in the final quarter too little, too late, [b]eventually claiming the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/finland-hrkQcWHb/hungary-UDBtdAnB/?mid=SzrEEwZ8"]85-77[/a] win relatively comfortably.[/b][/p][p]That said, it wasn't the most comfortable night for Markkanen, who felt harshly treated by the officials with a number of calls.[/p][p][b]"There was a situation where a guy was hanging by his wrist during a shooting situation. Even though I know that in Europe you can play harder than in North America, that's a mistake in both continents,"[/b] said the centre at the end of the game.[/p][p][b]"They (officials) always tell you their own view of the situation. This is an emotional game, and sometimes you have to say things a little louder, but there is nothing personal about it. I went to apologise at the end, I don't have anything to complain about the refereeing line per se. A few times it felt like the throw was broken, but it's also nice that I get to play hard."[/b][/p][p]Lassi Tuovi's side are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the third time, and reach back-to-back tournaments for the first time.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/basketball/world/world-cup/"]Follow the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]