Having carried over a record of four wins and two defeats from the previous round, a win and a loss in Group L means Finland now have a 5-3 record that takes them back into the top three, above Sweden, who fell to defeat against leaders France.
Estonia were well beaten in Hungary earlier this week, but started quickly back at home, taking a 6-0 lead and doing well to keep Lauri Markkanen quiet, just as Sweden did. However, that only created space for Edon Maxhuni, who had success at the three-point line to ensure the first quarter ended level, 21-21, then hit another three to start the second quarter, giving Finland their first lead.
But the home side soon re-established the lead against some poor Finnish defending, only for Markkanen to finally show his true colours late in the half, scoring from either side of the three-point line to help the Finns to a 38-35 lead at half-time.
In the third quarter, the Wolfpack completely dominated their hosts, as Miro Little, Alexander Madsen and Markkanen helped Finland take a double-digit lead which they only kept growing, and two free throws from Little ensured after 30 minutes, the visitors led by 20, at 66-46.
With that, the game was won, and the fourth quarter only saw Finland punish Estonia further, as Little and Maxhuni took the lead to a game-high 34 points, before the final buzzer sounded with Finland taking a 96-67 victory.
The Utah Jazz's Markkanen finished as top scorer with 21 points, three clear of Maxhuni and Olivier Nkamhoua, while Kristian Kullamae was Estonia's highest scorer with 15 points. Markkanen also led the game in rebounds, with 10, silencing his critics after struggling against Sweden.
Finland will be back in action at the end of November, when they travel to Slovenia before hosting Estonia. The top three in the six-team group will reach next year's World Cup in Qatar.
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