Dario Saric, #9 of Croatia, shooots the ball during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 group C match between Great Britain and Croatia at Forum di Assago on September 03, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)
(Photo by Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric stepped up for Croatia in a FIBA EuroBasket victory over Great Britain Saturday morning.
Saric bounced back from an 0-for-6 outing on Friday against Greece with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the 86-65 victory.
He was tied for the team lead in scoring with Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac and Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic, whom Phoenix reportedly showed interest in acquiring this week.
Saric got off to a strong start, hitting a pair of three-pointers, blocking a shot and dishing two assists in the first quarter. He hit three of six shots from deep in the game, in which he played 26:40.
The Suns big assisted a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third period, which gave Croatia a commanding 72-40 advantage.
“Dario needed a game like this,” Croatia head coach Damir Mulaomerovic said postgame. “When he scored first couple shots, he became Dario again. He was excellent tonight, doing his job very well. As a stretch 4, he was attacking, also (shot) creation.”
The win for Croatia set them at 1-1 in their group, which includes Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Ukraine and Estonia.
Saric and Croatia next face Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa and Estonia on Monday.
