Overview

• The Utah Jazz All-Star set the tone at Nokia Arena, scoring 10 of Finland’s first 14 points and fueling key second‑half runs.
• Sweden, labeled underdogs, pushed the hosts throughout as guard Ludde Hakanson kept pace with Markkanen’s output.
• Finland looked heavily reliant on its star, with the offense dipping when he rested and defensive lapses keeping the game tight.
• The performance reinforced pre‑tournament concerns about Finland’s defense despite the home‑court boost in Tampere.
• Tougher Group B games await against Germany, Lithuania, Montenegro and Great Britain, with media forecasts about a 50‑point game and a quarterfinal breakthrough remaining speculative.