Slovenia vs Latvia

With Latvia threatening to take control early in the third quarter after erasing a double-digit deficit, Prepelič took over. He engineered a 10-2 run almost single-handedly, scoring eight of those points and assisting on the other basket. That stretch re-established Slovenia's lead and forced Latvia to play catch-up for the remainder of the contest.

Klemen Prepelič (Slovenia) — Game-high 31 points on efficient shooting, including several timely three-pointers. His scoring output was a personal high for the national team and underlined his importance as the primary offensive option in Luka Dončić's absence. Player of the match.

Slovenia's supporting cast — While no other individual numbers were readily available, the team's collective effort in holding Latvia to 86 points — despite the visitors' strong perimeter game — was decisive. Slovenia's bench contributed key minutes in the first half to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Latvia's backcourt — The visitors had multiple players reach double figures, but no single scorer matched Prepelič's output. Latvia's three-point shooting kept them in the game throughout, though they could not find an answer for Prepelič in isolation situations.

The 89-86 scoreline reflects a tighter contest than Slovenia's previous friendly results this summer (a 93-81 win over Great Britain and a loss to Serbia). Prepelič's 31 points accounted for approximately 35% of Slovenia's total offence, highlighting his central role in the absence of the team's NBA star.

Latvia, who had averaged 100 points in their previous win over Slovenia, were held below the century mark for the first time in this fixture. The visitors' inability to contain Prepelič in one-on-one situations was the statistical through-line of the game.

Slovenia's win ends a three-match losing streak against Latvia in a rivalry dating to 2018. For head coach Aleksander Sekulić, the performance provides reassurance that the team can generate offence through Prepelič even without Dončić available.

Both sides used this friendly as preparation ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures. Slovenia's next outing is against Serbia on 21 August 2026 at the same venue.

A hard-fought friendly that told us more about Slovenia's Plan B than about either team's broader prospects. Prepelič's 31-point showing answered questions about who carries the scoring load when the superstar is absent. Latvia, to their credit, made it a contest until the final minute and showed they can compete on the road.