Latvia faces Georgia in final friendly without three players
Latvia's men's basketball team plays its last friendly before World Cup qualifiers, missing Helmanis, Ķilps, and Grīnvalds against Georgia.
The Latvian men's national basketball team, led by head coach Jānis Gailītis, will play its second preparatory game tonight before the upcoming World Cup qualification cycle. The opponent is Georgia, and the team will have to do without three players.
In the first friendly against Estonia, Latvia lost 78-88 while missing Artūrs Žagars, Rolands Šmits, and Mārcis Šteinbergs. This time, Krišs Helmanis (2 points vs Estonia), Kristaps Ķilps (0 points), and Gunārs Grīnvalds (debut, 48 seconds played) will not be available.
Latvia and Georgia have faced each other five times, with Latvia winning three. Their last meeting was in the 2024 Olympic qualification tournament in Riga, where Latvia triumphed 83-55.
After this friendly, Latvia will play two decisive World Cup qualifiers: against the Netherlands on June 3 at 8:30 PM, and against Austria on June 6 at 7:30 PM. The team's fate will likely be decided in the match against Austria, where a victory is needed.
