The basketball world turns its attention to Latvia tonight as two European powerhouses clash in a winner-take-all showdown. Slovenia and Italy meet in the Round of 16, with Luka Dončić carrying his nation’s championship hopes against a battle-tested Italian squad that’s been nearly unstoppable.
How Did Slovenia and Italy Reach This Crucial Showdown?
The 2025 FIBA EuroBasket championship has officially entered the knockout stages. Starting with the group stages in August, we’ve had teams battling for the number one spot for weeks. With the NBA 2025-26 season a month away, one can expect fans to tune in to watch some of their favorite players.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dončić, and Kristaps Porziņģis are a few standout NBA players participating, ready to gear up and represent their countries before another NBA season. While Porziņģis and Latvia are eliminated in the Round of 16 at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, we still have Antetokounmpo and Dončić’s Round of 16 games to wait for.
Led by Dončić, Slovenia had a rocky start to its campaign with two straight losses. However, the Dallas Mavericks star stepped up for the team, concluding their group stage with three consecutive wins. Part of Group D, Slovenia sneaked past into the qualifying teams, finishing third with a 3-2 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, Italy had a less turbulent journey in Group C. Following a 75-66 loss against Greece, Italy went on to win all its encounters, finishing strong in second place with a 4-1 record. Greece finished first with the same record.
It’s Slovenia vs. Italy in a high-stakes EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16 thriller — winner takes it all and moves on to face the powerhouse Germany next!
⏰ Tip-off at 18:30 local time (17:30 CEST) in Riga, Latvia. pic.twitter.com/m3jYfLBTxx
— Luka Doncic Global Fans (@AthleteLuka) September 7, 2025
That said, the two teams’ head-to-head history is completely lopsided. Slovenia is leading 7-1, having won three previous matchups. The last game Italy won was the Men’s World Championship’s Preliminary Round’s 80-76 victory on August 20, 2006.
They last squared off in 2023, with Slovenia winning 89-85. Whichever team wins will advance to the quarterfinals.
The game is scheduled on Sunday, September 7, at 11:30 a.m. ET at Arena Riga in Latvia.
Where Can Fans Watch Slovenia vs. Italy EuroBasket 2025?
Basketball fans can tune into multiple channels or streaming services to watch EuroBasket games.
Fans can access Courtside 1981 to watch all games. Courtside 1981 is FIBA’s official streaming partner. It offers live viewings and on-demand replays. However, FIBA warns that certain regions may experience blackouts, so fans should check availability in their area.
You can purchase Courtside 1981 through DAZN for $9.99 per month, making it affordable for watching multiple games. Local broadcasters are also available for those who don’t wish to stream.
Slovenian fans can tune in through Šport TV, their country’s official broadcasting partner. Italian viewers can watch through DAZN ITALY, RAISPORT, and Sky Italia, Italy’s designated broadcast partners for the tournament.
Can Luka Dončić Power Slovenia Past Italy’s Strong Defense?
While Italy has had a dominant run in Group C, their knockout stage isn’t going to be as easy as expected.
On a strong three-game winning streak, Dončić waits for Italy. While Slovenia has had two losses, the NBA star is enough of a threat for any team, especially if the Slovenian native leads the offense.
Dončić averaged 32.4 points per game during the Group Phase, the best average a player has scored in a Preliminary Stage since Nikos Galis (34.3) and Drazen Petrovic (32.7) in 1989.
Türkiye, Germany, Lithuania, and Finland have already advanced to the quarterfinals.
