Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic advances at World Cup
Despite a scoreless night, Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic is on to the quarterfinal knockout round of the World Cup in the Philippines after his Serbian national team defeated the Dominican Republic 112-79 Sunday in a win-or-go-home game.
For now, though, a showdown between Jovic and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been put on hold.
Jovic, who had thrived offensively at the start of the competition before struggling the past two games, closed 0 for 4 from the field in his 23:38 Sunday, while playing in foul trouble. The 6-foot-11 2022 first-round pick by the Heat had five assists and three rebounds, including an electrifying beyond-the-back assist from the low post.
Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 20 points Sunday, enough to offset the 25 points of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns for the Dominican Republic. Jovic was among those taking the defensive assignment on Towns.
The World Cup runs through next Sunday’s championship game in Manila. Heat training camp then opens Oct. 3.
Jovic is the lone Heat player competing at the World Cup, with Heat center Bam Adebayo sitting out the event for USA Basketball, after helping Team USA to gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Nikola Jovic goes behind-the-back for the slick assist 😴
Serbia got the W over the Dominican Republic 🇷🇸#FIBAWC | #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/ArODsUdU3L
— NBA (@NBA) September 3, 2023
Jovic’s early play in the World Cup helped Serbia to a 2-0 start in the event, with Serbia playing without team leader Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets center sitting out the event after defeating the Heat in June ‘s NBA Finals.
Jovic is averaging 11.2 points, 3,4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game in his five World Cup appearances, shooting .559 from the field, .450 on 3-pointers.
Had the United States remained undefeated in the event and won their second-round pool, Serbia would have faced Team USA in the quarterfinals. Instead, with the United States losing 110-104 Sunday to Lithuania, Serbia will face Lithuania in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and the United States will face Italy.
Anthony Edwards led Team USA with 35 points Sunday in the loss, with Lithuania winning with a more balanced attack.
Victories in the quarterfinals by Serbia and the United States then would pit Jovic against Spoelstra in the semifinals. Spoelstra is serving as a Team USA assistant to Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Spoelstra visited with Jovic at the start of the tournament, with the United States and Serbia national teams based in close proximity.
Jovic has been mentioned as a potential trade piece in a possible Heat deal for Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard who has requested a trade to the Heat.
