Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta stole the spotlight at EuroBasket on Wednesday.
Playing for his native Portugal, Queta powered a 62-50 win over Czechia, the nation’s first tournament victory since 2007.
He finished with 23 points on 11-for-15 shooting, collected 18 rebounds and added four blocks with two steals, according to Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston. Queta even opened the game by drilling a 3-pointer, his first made long-range attempt as a professional.
The 7-footer established control from the opening tip, scoring Portugal’s first seven points before anchoring both ends of the floor.
His 18 rebounds tied one of the top single-game totals in EuroBasket history and kept Czechia from finding rhythm near the rim. He committed just two fouls in 30 minutes while finishing plus-21 for the game, as noted by Brian Robb of MassLive.
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While Czechia lacked a high-level frontcourt presence to truly test him, Queta’s dominance still marked a significant step for Portugal. The win also offered a reminder of his upside at a time when Boston could use extra depth.
With Kristaps Porzingis dealt away and Al Horford likely departing, the Celtics’ front line is thinner than in years past. Queta showing confidence in his scoring and discipline defensively could earn him a larger role when the NBA season begins.
The tests now get tougher. Portugal faces reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia on Friday, followed by matchups against Alperen Sengun and Turkey and Porzingis with Latvia.
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Whether Queta can sustain his play against elite NBA competition remains to be seen, but Wednesday showed he is prepared for the challenge.