On September 7 , Finland achieved a historic victory in the round of 16 of the European Championship, defeating favorite Serbia 92-86, creating the most sensational upset of the tournament. With this victory, Finland reached the quarterfinals for the second consecutive time and won its first victory over Serbia since 2009.

Finland quickly opened the game with an 11-1 run to take a 16-5 lead. Serbia, led by Jokic, tied the game at 28 in the second quarter, but Finland held its ground, trailing only 44-48 at halftime. They continued to trouble their opponents in the third quarter, leading 68-66 heading into the final quarter. Serbia briefly overtook them in the final five minutes, but Valtonen scored eight crucial points to turn the tide. With 53 seconds left, Finland led 87-81, securing the upset victory.

Elias Valtonen was undoubtedly named Player of the Game. Although he only scored 13 points, his clutch play in the final moments will go down in Finnish basketball history. Markkanen remained a consistent force, scoring a game-high 29 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, showcasing the dominance of an NBA All-Star.

Finland's victory in this tough match hinged on their rebounding advantage. They grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, putting immense pressure on Serbia. Serbia, on the other hand, struggled from the perimeter, shooting just 29% from three-point range. Jokic, despite scoring 33 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, maintained his all-around performance. Jovic also chipped in 20 points, but failed to lift the team past the crucial moment.