EuroBasket 2017: Cedi Osman scores 15 points in Turkey’s 80-74 loss to Serbia

Cedi Osman and Turkey had their moments, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as they lost 80-74 to Serbia on Monday afternoon in Istanbul.

Osman, again playing almost the entire game, scored 15 points, pulled down four rebounds, dished out five assists and had two blocks. Melih Mahmutoglu lead Turkey with 19 points, while Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 19 points.

With 1:07, with Turkey back down by six, Osman missed a three from the corner. For the day, he was 4-12 from the field and 3-9 from three. When he drove, his lack of a tight handle and controlled footwork kept him from getting off clean shots at the rim. In one instance, with 3:03 to go in the second quarter, he drove from the corner, didn’t hit the rim on his shot and missed an open Semih Erden.

Serbia, for the most part, controlled Turkey and dominated the flow of the game. Turkey had runs in both halves that kept the game close, but were unable to keep the momentum going to take control of the game.

In the first half, Osman was somewhat invisible despite playing most of the half. In the first quarter, he accounted for nine of Turkey’s 13 points before not contributing much to Turkey’s 12-0 run in the second quarter. In one moment, he was also scored by fellow Cavs draftee Milan Macvan in the post.

Osman, though, showed up as Turkey made its final push in the second half. With 6:21 to go in the fourth quarter, Osman hit a three to put Turkey up two. But his two blocks — both chase down blocks — were his best moments.

His first, from the third quarter, saw him sprint from half court to the rim:

With 31 seconds left in the game, Osman made his second. After threw an errant pass, he made it all the way to the other rim to prevent the basket:

This may have been his worst game, but he still had his presence felt when it mattered.

Turkey is now 1-2 in EuroBasket play. It returns tomorrow at 2 p.m. vs. Belgium.