The Lakers snagged an indirect win against the Celtics on Monday, and Sandro Mamukelashvili’s Georgia squad was the one making it hurt for Boston. Georgia staged a massive second half rally, overcoming a double-digit deficit to knock off Portugal and Celtics big man Neemias Queta, 98-90. Let’s be real, any win that makes Boston fans groan is a good win.
Mamu’s Buzzer-Beater Lit the Fuse for a Monster Comeback
Portugal came out swinging in the first half, grabbing an 11-point lead late in the first quarter and holding it for most of the opening two frames. But Georgia just kept chipping away, and then Mamu pulled off something wild. He flipped up a crazy three at the buzzer, cutting the lead down to just one point heading into the locker room. That spark, that pure, unadulterated energy from Mamu’s shot, carried right into the second half. Georgia absolutely blew the game open, going on a 10-0 run to snatch the lead and never look back. They dominated the second half 57-48, winning going away.
World Cup Qualification Hopes and Key Stats
Mamu was an absolute force, finishing the game with 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists. He shot 6-18 from the field, including 3-9 from beyond the arc. This crucial win moved Georgia into the top three in their qualifying group with 13 points, tying them with Spain. Ukraine is just ahead with 14 points, while Portugal, Greece, and Montenegro are all sitting on 12 points. The stakes are huge here, with the top three teams qualifying for the FIBA World Cup. Georgia’s got four more qualifying games coming up, but those will be without Mamu and the other NBA players on the roster. Elsewhere, Slovenia also made a big move, routing Hungary 92-77 to climb into third in their own group. They’ll face France without their NBA players, like Luka Dončić or Jaxson Hayes, in February, which definitely makes that game look a lot more winnable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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