Team USA is just not invincible.
The erstwhile undefeated United States on Sunday fell to Lithuania, 110-104, of their second spherical face-off within the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The Lithuanians had a balanced assault with 9 completely different gamers scoring between 15 and 9 factors. All 9 of these gamers additionally hit no less than one three-pointer en path to a dominant capturing efficiency from the European workforce, which shot 14-of-25 (56-percent) from three.
Vaidas Kariniauskas led the way in which with 15 markers for Lithuania. Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 14, Jonas Valanciunas completed with 12 factors and 7 boards, and Tadas Sedekerskis had a double-double with 11 markers and 11 rebounds.
The US misplaced regardless of a 35-point efficiency from Anthony Edwards, together with 15 within the fourth quarter.
Lithuania began sturdy and restricted the Americans to simply 12 factors towards their 31-point outburst within the first quarter. Eventually, the Lithuanians led by 21, 54-33, earlier than they closed the primary half at 54-37.
USA, nevertheless, fought again within the third interval with a 15-2 run to chop their deficit, 56-52, with lower than six minutes left within the quarter.
Even previous to their matchups, each groups have already superior to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Lithuania, although, completed on high of the group with a 5-0 document and can face Serbia within the quarterfinals on September 5, Tuesday.
The USA dropped to 4-1 with their first defeat and shall be matched towards Italy within the knockout stage.
The scores:
Lithuania 110 – Kariniauskas 15, Kuzminskas 14, Valanciunas 12, Brazdeikis 11, Dimsa 11, Sedekerskis 11, Bendzius 10, Jokubaitis 9, Motiejunas 9, Normantas 6, Sirvydis 2.
USA 104 – Edwards 35, Bridges 14, Brunson 14, Ingram 10, Portis 7, Reaves 7, Banchero 6, Haliburton 3, Jackson 3, Johnson 3, Kessler 2, Hart 0.
Quarters: 31-12, 54-37, 71-65, 110-104.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com