Lauri Markkanen delivered a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Finland to a 96-67 victory over Estonia in World Cup qualifying. Finland carried a three-point advantage into halftime before taking control with a dominant second half and pulling away for a 29-point win.
What happened
Markkanen shot 6 of 13 from the field and made 3 of his 5 attempts from 3-point range. He also blocked two shots in 25 minutes and 30 seconds, contributing at both ends as Finland recovered from a closely contested opening half.
The game changed decisively after the break. Finland outscored Estonia 58-32 over the final two quarters, turning its narrow halftime edge into a comfortable victory.
Why it matters
The result gave Finland an immediate response after Thursday's five-point defeat to Sweden. That loss came three days earlier, and the win over Estonia allowed Finland to split its two-game qualifying window.
It was Markkanen's ninth double-double for Finland and his second in World Cup qualifying. His production supplied the foundation for a second-half surge that transformed a close game into a decisive result.
By the numbers
Finland finished with a 59.4% effective field-goal rate, well above Estonia's 42.5% mark. That shooting gap accompanied Finland's 26-point advantage after halftime and helped produce the final 96-67 margin.
Markkanen collected four offensive rebounds among his 10 total boards, creating additional possessions while completing the double-double. He finished with a 26 efficiency rating and added two blocks to his 21 points.
His 3-of-5 performance from deep was a key part of an efficient scoring night. Markkanen made six field goals overall on 13 attempts while playing just over 25 minutes.
What to watch next
Finland moves on to its next Second Round qualifier after taking one win from this two-game window. The Estonia result provides a positive response to the Sweden defeat, with the team's sharp second-half performance setting the closing note for the window.
Markkanen will enter the next qualifier after adding another national-team double-double to his record. Finland will look to carry forward the shooting efficiency and second-half control that separated it from Estonia.