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USA advances to FIBA World Cup quarterfinals despite loss to Lithuania

jeff zillgitt, usa today
·4 min read
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Lithuania built a 21-point second-quarter lead, started hot from 3-point range making its first nine attempts, dominated the U.S. with its rebounding and held on for a 110-104 victory Sunday in the final game of group play.

The U.S. and Lithuania, which improved to 5-0, both advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup, but Sunday’s loss revealed just how much better the U.S. will need to play if it wants to medal after finishing seventh at the 2019 World Cup.

The U.S., which will play Italy in the quarterfinals, also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of the top two teams from FIBA Americas at the 2023 World Cup.

Lithuania has been a regular medal contender for the past three decades − ever since its arrival on the scene at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Grateful Dead-inspired tie-dyed T-shirts. It won bronze in three consecutive Olympics (1992, 1996 and 2000), bronze at the 2010 FIBA World Cup and silver at the 2015 EuroBasket.

Lithuania rides hot shooting, size advantage

Lithuania shot 53% from the field and 56% on 3-pointers, and seven players had double figures in points, led Vaidas Kariniauskas’ 15 points, Mindaugas Kuzminskas’ 14 points and New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas’ 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Lithuania outrebounded the U.S. 43-27, including 18-9 on the offensive end and outscored the U.S. 17-2 on second-chance points.

US rallies in the second half, falls short

The Americans cut Lithuania’s lead to two possessions multiple times but failed to get stops or a bucket to get any closer in the second half.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards scored a team-high 35 points, setting a U.S. record for most points in a FIBA World Cup game.

U.S. guard Anthony Edwards (10) makes a pass around Lithuania forward Ignas Brazdeikis (9) during their basketball World Cup second-round match in Manila, Philippines.
U.S. guard Anthony Edwards (10) makes a pass around Lithuania forward Ignas Brazdeikis (9) during their basketball World Cup second-round match in Manila, Philippines.

Brooklyn Nets guard-forward Mikal Bridges had 14 points and two blocks, and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson had 14 points and seven assists.

The U.S. shot 53% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers. Memphis Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. played with foul trouble, and the U.S. lacked size and bulk against Lithuania.

What are the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals matchups?

USA vs. Italy, Tuesday, 8:40 a.m. ET

Germany vs. Latvia, Wednesday, 4:45 a.m. ET

Serbia vs. Lithuania, Tuesday, 4:45 a.m. ET

Slovenia vs. Canada, Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. ET

Looking ahead for the US

USA faces Italy in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and the winner will play the winner of Germany-Latvia in the semifinals which are Friday.

Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio leads Italy in scoring (18.4 points per game) and scored a team-high 30 points in an impressive 78-76 victory against Serbia in the second phase of group play.

Marco Spissu (11.4 points per game), Stefano Tonut (11.4 points per game) and Giampaolo Ricci (10.6 points per game) also score in double figures for Italy, and Nicolo Melli and Luigi Datome have NBA experience.

Big win for Canada against Spain

Trailing for much of the game, including late in the fourth quarter, Canada defeated Spain 88-85 for a spot in the quarterfinals and next year's Paris Olympics. Oklahoma City All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals for Canada, which is trying to medal at the FIBA World Cup for the first time.

Spain's Alex Abrines missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer attempt at the final buzzer.

Who has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in men’s basketball?

France: Though France didn’t make it out of the first stage of group play, it qualified automatically as the host country next year.

Australia: Qualified as highest-finishing 2023 World Cup team from FIBA Oceania.

South Sudan: Qualified as highest-finishing 2023 World Cup team from FIBA Africa.

Japan: Qualified as highest-finishing 2023 World Cup team from FIBA Asia.

United States: Qualified as one of the two highest-finishing 2023 World Cup teams from FIBA Americas.

Canada: Qualified as one of the two highest-finishing 2023 World Cup teams from FIBA Americas.

Two more teams (top two from FIBA Europe) will qualify for the 2024 Olympics in World Cup play.

The remaining four teams will qualify for Paris through qualifying events before the Olympics.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA loses to Lithuania at FIBA World Cup, advances to quarterfinals