Lauri Markkanen powers Finland past Sweden in EuroBasket 2025 thriller

Those of a nervous disposition wouldn’t have been able to handle the Nokia Arena on Tuesday night. Lauri Markkanen and Finland were pushed to the absolute limit by Sweden in EuroBasket 2025

Not for the first time, Lauri Markkanen was playing a home game in EuroBasket. The difference between EuroBasket 2017 and EuroBasket 2025 was a matter of expectation. Markkamania was born eight years ago but the crowd in Tampere were ready for it to run wild against Sweden.

The dunk, the roar

Edon Maxhuni was looking for the ball. He thought better of it. Maxhuni was about to be boxed out before even getting a pass. Instead, he opted to be an undersized screener. Lauri Markkanen said thank you very much.

The grab was easy, the dunk was vicious. Markkanen looked towards the hardcore Susijengi fans to his right and roared as he held on to the rim post bucket. The Utah Jazz star scored 10 of Finland’s first 14 points in this EuroBasket 2025 opener.

That Sweden, the clear underdogs in this encounter, led midway through the first felt academic. The Susijengi had filled the Nokia Arena to see Lauri Markkanen crush all before him. Everything else was just side dressing.

Kneel before Lauri

All Simon Birgander wanted to do was pass the ball early in a possession for Sweden. Lauri Markkanen decided that didn’t work for him. Up he leapt, in an exaggerated manner, to nap it out of the sky with his right arm. This wasn’t so much a game as it was a performance. The thousands filling this arena were getting the show they wanted.

As matters remained tight on the scoreboard, Markkanen was forced to adjust slightly. The urge to be the showman was there. When he took on Birgander and Denzel Anderrson along the baseline early in the second, we saw the workhorse. The Utah Jazz man wanted to drive for the dunk but was happy to settle for drawing a foul and taking care of matters at the line.

The Susijengi howls in the stands became much easier to distinguish towards the tail end of the first half. For all of Markkanen’s work and flair, Finland were making very hard work of an industrious Sweden team.

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Oh hi Lauri

The first two games of the day in Tampere had followed a familiar script. Great Britain played hard for 20 minutes before getting blown out by Lithuania. Montenegro were within a score of Germany at the break in their game. Then Franz Wagner and company went to work. Lauri Markkanen was determined to do the same in the third quarter against Sweden.

Straight out of the blocks, he had a dunk. Then he gave Finland a rare two-possession lead with a three. After that, a step-back two. Sweden were still biting at their heels. For all of Finland’s impressive performances offensively in tournament build-up, their D had looked ropey.

That solo 7 point run from Markkanen finally woke up the rest of the Finnish attack. Maxhuni and Sasu Salin nailed from deep. Neck and neck it went. Whenever Markkanen sat, it felt like Finland were hanging on for dear life. Whenever he was on the floor, they spammed him but still hung on for dear life.

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So what happened?

This requires introducing the character that hasn’t featured in this column yet. Ludde Hakanson has always been a good guard. The Swede has always been a just shy of playing Euroleague type of baller. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands, whether that’s to pass or shoot.

There are only so many situations where he can get that. With the Sweden national team. He most certainly did. For all of Lauri Markkanen’s buckets for Finland, Hakanson was keeping pace with him and more. Ludde Hakanson is a walking reminder that there are many, many, good basketball players outside not just the NBA but even Euroleague.

His best fit is undoubtedly with his national team. Here he was just getting work done at EuroBasket 2025 and terrifying the capacity crowd in the Nokia Arena.

Lauri Markkanen got his but Finland were pushed to the limit by Sweden in a thriller on the opening day of EuroBasket 2025.

It’s ride or die with Lauri

The flaws in Finland’s game that Sweden exposed require some caveats. This was a derby game, those are always a bit odd. Finland has a long history of struggling to deal with Sweden’s style of play as well. Still, the defensive display by the hosts was not encouraging.

Lauri Markkanen’s extraordinary ability to score and lead this side is obvious. It also looks more necessary than ever. One star teams aren’t uncommon at international level. This group in Tampere at EuroBasket 2025 has Lithuania clearly leaning on Jonas Valanciunas and Nikola Vucevic being spammed by Montenegro. Each of those realise they have to offer something else in reserve.

When Lauri Markkanen sits, Finland look ordinary. That simply won’t do. There is enough talent here to work things out. Still, based on this performance, a 3-2 or 2-3 group record may be all they get. That isn’t why they bid to host. The Susijengi expect a team that can compete for a medal.

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