Latvia falls to Ukraine 82:84 in exhibition basketball match

Latvia's men's national basketball team suffered an 82:84 loss to Ukraine in an exhibition game held in Riga on Sunday, August 23. Artūrs Strautiņš led Latvia's scoring with 20 points, Kristers Zoriks added 13, while Rihards Lomažs and Kristaps Ķilps each contributed 10 points.

The match saw shifting momentum throughout. Latvia led in the opening quarter, but Ukraine pulled ahead in the second, driven by a strong scoring display from Svjatoslav Mykhailiuk. Latvia fought back in the third quarter to retake the lead heading into the final period, but Ukraine reclaimed the advantage down the stretch and held on for the win. Mykhailiuk finished as the game's top scorer with 25 points.

The match marked the debut of young forward Tomas Talcis for Latvia, as well as experienced guard Maksym Shulga for Ukraine. Before the game, attendees marked the 37th anniversary of the Baltic Way and the approaching 35th anniversary of Ukraine's restoration of independence. A ceremony honoring Latvia's U16 national teams for their achievements at this year's European championships also took place during the game.

Earlier in their exhibition cycle, on August 19 in Ljubljana, Latvia also lost to Slovenia, 86:89. The team's next match comes Thursday, August 27, in Zadar — an official 2027 World Cup qualifying game against Croatia.