"We didn't score anything at the beginning and we needed some points from counterattacks, because it's hard to play five-on-five against the Portuguese. They have a clogged under-the-basket area and it was difficult for us to score some points. Against such a team with such a big pivot (Quetou), we have to play fast, and we didn't help ourselves much with three-pointers," said Krejčí."There are a lot of things we need to learn from. It was the first game, there was nervousness. A lot can still happen. We'll watch the video and see what we can improve," he added.

At the start of the second ten-minute period, Krejčí converted two sixes and then the Atlanta player, after a great action, gave the Czech team the lead for the first time, 14:13.

Both teams then exchanged shots from distance. The Portuguese ran out to a five-point lead, but Kříž and Krejčí turned the tables.

After three successful free throws by Krejčí and a three-pointer by Hruban, they led 29:24, but the opponent managed to turn the game around with an eight-point streak. Queta improved to 15 points.

After the break, Rafael Lisboa was the first to score three points. The Czechs scored only one six in the first half in nine minutes and 12 seconds thanks to Tomáš Kyzlinka, and the deficit grew to 10 points.

Martin Svoboda ended the fast, scoring twice in a row. Lisboa responded with a shot from the perimeter, but thanks to baskets by Petr Křivánek and Svoboda and sixes by Jaromír Bohačík and Kříž, the Czechs came within striking distance (40:43).

However, they missed the next four free throws in this period, and Lisboa gave coach Mário Gomes' team a five-point lead before the final quarter.

After another Czech loss, Vlad Voytso completed the escape. Martin Peterka's three-pointer gave Ocampo hope. But on the other side, Queta and Diogo Ventura prevailed, and after another Peterka shot from distance, Boston's pivot calmed the Portuguese down again.

The Czech team did not do well and their opponent, who made it to EuroBasket for the first time since 2011, easily secured victory.

The basketball players will face Turkey, Estonia, one of the main favorites of the tournament, Serbia, and home team Latvia in the next matches in Riga. At the last European Championship in 2022, the Czechs finished sixteenth.