Just because NBA basketball isn't in session doesn't mean the whole sport is taking a break. The 2027 FIBA EuroBasket World Cup Qualifiers are underway, as are the pre-qualifiers for the 2029 World Cup.
Plenty of Boston Celtics are in action. Neemias Queta is suiting up for Portugal, Hugo Gonzalez for Spain, and Luka Garza for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifiers, and Amari Williams for Great Britain in the pre-qualifiers.
Queta and Gonzalez played each other in their first game of the August window. Gonzalez suited up a bit for Spain earlier in the summer, but this was Queta's first appearance.
Portugal pulled off a major upset, earning a 95-89 win over Spain. Queta finished with 16 points, nine rebounds (five OREB), and one assist while shooting 5-of-10 from the field. Gonzalez, on the other hand, didn't play as well.
He put up three points, four rebounds, and one assist on 1-of-4 shooting. On the plus side, Gonzalez played a team-high 23:27, showing how much the team trusts him at just 20 years old. On the other side, he was a -23.
Queta's best teammates on Portugal's roster include Travante Williams, St. John's forward Ruben Prey, and Diogo Brito. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has a ton of NBA players and former NBAers on his team. Juancho Hernangomez, Willy Hernangomez, and rookies Aday Mara and Baba Miller. So, needless to say, Portugal's victory was impressive.
Garza, meanwhile, helped Bosnia and Herzegovina pick up a 78-76 victory over Italy while coming off the bench. He had 10 points and seven rebounds (two OREBs) on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.
He backed up Jusuf Nurkic, who was absolutely dominant. The Utah Jazz big man ended the game with 25 points, 14 rebounds (six OREBs), and two assists, taking down Simone Fontecchio and Nico Mannion's Italian side.
Lastly, there's Williams. Great Britain isn't in the mix for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, but they're trying to cement their place for 2029. And they picked up a huge 110-75 win over Switzerland this week.
Williams contributed