Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy

Jusuf Nurkić produced a monster double-double — 25 points and 14 rebounds — to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 78-76 victory over Italy in Tuzla, giving the hosts their first-ever FIBA win over the Azzurri.

The result breathes life into Bosnia's Second Round campaign in Group J. Italy, who had won all five previous FIBA meetings between the sides dating back to 1993, dropped to 5-2 — still well placed but missing a chance to consolidate at the top.

Bosnia started aggressively, edging the first quarter 18-17 behind Nurkić's early work in the paint. The defining stretch came in the second period: Italy managed just 10 points as Bosnia's defence tightened, and a 16-10 quarter gave the hosts a 34-27 halftime cushion.

Italy's offence found rhythm after the break. Simone Fontecchio (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Nico Mannion (14 points, 6 assists) sparked a third-quarter recovery, and the Azzurri outscored Bosnia 27-24 to cut the deficit to 58-54 heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was a tense back-and-forth. Italy tied the game on multiple occasions, but Bosnia answered each time. Amar Alibegovic's clutch three-point shooting (3-of-4 from deep, 12 points) proved critical. Kenan Kamenjaš added 13 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, including 5-of-6 free-throw shooting down the stretch. Luka Garza chipped in 10 points and 7 rebounds in just under 16 minutes.

Italy had a chance to force overtime or win at the buzzer, but Bosnia's defence held firm. The Azzurri finished 10-of-28 from three-point range (35.7%) and 20-of-24 from the free-throw line, but their two-point shooting (13-of-34, 38.2%) told the story of Bosnia's interior resistance.

Bosnia's second-quarter defensive stand flipped the game. Italy scored only 10 points in the period — their lowest output of any quarter — and never fully recovered the lost ground. The 34-27 halftime lead gave Bosnia the buffer they needed to absorb Italy's second-half surges.

Jusuf Nurkić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) — Player of the Match
25 points, 14 rebounds (6 offensive), 2 assists, 28 efficiency rating in 22:30 minutes. The Phoenix Suns centre shot 11-of-19 from the field and dominated the paint on both ends, recording the game's only 20-10 double-double.

Nico Mannion (Italy)
14 points, 6 assists, 2 steals. The point guard kept Italy in the game with crafty penetration and perfect 6-of-6 free-throw shooting, but his 3-of-7 overall shooting reflected Bosnia's defensive schemes.

Simone Fontecchio (Italy)
14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block. Italy's forward was efficient inside (4-of-8 on two-pointers) but couldn't find consistent rhythm from beyond the arc (1-of-4).

Kenan Kamenjaš (Bosnia)
13 points, 8 rebounds in 19:52 off the bench. The big man shot 4-of-7 from the field and was clutch at the free-throw line.

Bosnia attempted 43 two-pointers (making 25, 58.1%) against Italy's 34 (making just 13, 38.2%). Nurkić, Kamenjaš and Garza combined for 19-of-34 inside the arc, overwhelming an Italian frontline that lacked answers in the paint. Italy's three-point shooting kept them in the game — 10 makes to Bosnia's 4 — but the hosts' 42-31 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards, created second-chance opportunities that ultimately proved decisive. Bosnia's 42.3% field goal shooting (29-of-71) wasn't pretty, but the physical edge at the rim and on the glass decided the outcome.

In Group J, Bosnia improved to 3-4 (9 points), keeping their qualification hopes alive with a vital home win. Italy dropped to 5-2 but remain well positioned in the top half of the group behind unbeaten Turkey (6-0).

Next fixtures:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina: @ Lithuania (31 August 2026)
• Italy: vs Serbia in Pesaro (31 August 2026)

Bosnia finally broke their duck against Italy in FIBA competition, and they did it through their NBA big man. Nurkić's dominance at both ends, backed by a physical frontcourt rotation, exploited Italy's one clear weakness. The Azzurri will need to find answers before facing Serbia on Sunday.

Sources: FIBA Basketball (game page 127136), Global Sports Archive (match 4377541), Betmana.co.uk match page, NBA.com — FIBA World Cup Qualifiers roundup (28 August 2026)