Germany's Dirk Nowitzki (L) and Turkey's Ersan İlyasova are the players to watch. (Photo : Reuters)
Hometown squad Germany will host struggling team Turkey at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday, September 8 as the 2015 EuroBasket preliminary round continues.
Germany is currently 1-1 in the tournament after they were defeated by contending team Serbia, 68-66, thru a last-second floating game-winner from power forward Nemanja Bjelica, as reported by ESPN.
NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki expectedly led Chris Fleming's squad with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while center Tibor Pleiss also fired 15 markers and hauled down seven boards, but it was not enough to hold the Serbians at bay after Bjelica's heroics.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schröder contributed 11 points and six assists for the Germans.
Turkey is also 1-1 so far with a close 89-87 win over Italy on opening day, but they were blown out by powerhouse team Spain in their second game on Sunday, 104-77.
There was nothing coach Ergin Ataman's men can do after Spain's big names led the rout at the start of the second quarter, as per the tournament's official website.
Detroit Pistons power forward Ersan İlyasova was steady for the Turks, leading them with 15 points but only had a rebound in 21 minutes of play. Bench players Melih Mahmutoglu and Hüseyin Köksal added 12 points apiece amidst the walkover game.
Germany's primary advantage versus Turkey is going to be the adrenaline of playing in front of their countrymen. Fleming will make sure that they get the most out of this advantage, much like what they did against a much stronger Serbian side last Sunday.
Prediction: Germany wins, 74-70
Germany starting five: Tibor Pleiss (C), Dirk Nowitzki (PF), Paul Zipser (SF), Anton Gavel (SG), Dennis Schröder (PG)
Turkey starting five: Semih Erden (C), Ersan İlyasova (PF), Cedi Osman (SF), Sinan Güler (SG), Ali Muhammed (PG)
