World Cup – Author of a catastrophic first quarter, Team USA lost 110-104 against an enthusiastic Lithuania. Defeated for the first time, the United States will face Italy in the quarter-finals.
We don’t dream. After ten minutes, Lithuania leads 31-12 against the United States. Under the whistles of a public won over to the cause of the teammates of an imperial Jonas Valanciunas on the counter, the Americans are asleep and only Anthony Edwards is at his best with 6 of the first 8 American points. We have to wait for the first rotations to see Cam Johnson, and always Edwards, feed the mark (39-26).
Except that the Lithuanians are hot from afar (9 out of 9!!!), whether it’s Vaidas Kariniauskas, Domatas Motiejunas or Mindaugas Kuzminskas. The American rotations are too slow offshore, and that does not forgive. And to make matters worse, Jaren Jackson Jr, very naive, receives his third fault. Team USA has beefed up its defense, but the overflow of dribbling prevents them from surprising the Lithuanians who widen the gap again (49-29).
The Americans are getting closer minute by minute…
Under the panels, Valanciunas (12 pts, 7 rebounds) continues his huge construction site, and he traps Walker Kessler, while Brazdekis goes to dunk on Paolo Banchero (52-31). Thanks to the aggressiveness of Brunson who finds Portis then Banchero near the circle, the Americans return to the locker room 17 points behind (54-37).
Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson immediately bring Team USA down to 12 to start the 2nd half, and Valanciunas receives two offensive fouls! Jaren Jackson Jr. imitates his teammates, and the Americans drop below 10 points (54-46). Like Edwards and Josh Hart, the United States defend much harder. With Bridges at the head of the racket, Steve Kerr’s players are nibbling behind, and there are now only four points behind (56-52).
The Americans are on a 15-2 in four minutes, but Lithuania continues on a 6-0 to restore air (62-52). The level of play has gone up a screen with Lithuanians trying to push the Americans to the low post, but the Portis-Banchero pair are holding on, and their mobility is hurting on the other side of the circle (67-63) . On a double tap at the buzzer of Kuzminskas, Lithuania gives themselves a little air (71-65).
Kuzminskas, the X factor
Better still, Valanciunas’ teammates even found their 10-point lead (77-67). Still dominating near the circle. The game is becoming more and more choppy with Americans fighting against frustration, and Lithuanians maintaining the gap with free throws (82-72), or responding tit for 3-pointers US (89-81). There are five minutes left to play, and Valanciunas takes his 4th foul, again on the offensive. A hard blow, and Jalen Brunson took the opportunity to bring the Americans to -4 (89-85). Moment chosen by Kuzminskas (14 points) to release a 3-pointer from elsewhere, at the buzzer (94-85). He can smile, and Steve Kerr too.
A basket that hurts since Lithuania attacks the “money time” with these famous 10 points ahead (95-85). Like Austin Reaves, the US are trying to come back to 3-pointers but this time there is no rebound, and on throws, Lithuania flies away (97-85). Edwards’ efforts (35 points) were not enough, and after an endless free throw contest, Lithuania created the feat with a 110-104 victory. Never had the Americans conceded so many points in a World Cup.
A success that directs them to Serbia in the quarter-finals, while the United States will face Italy, and they pocket their ticket for the Olympic Games. But the message got through, Team USA is not invincible!
USA Shots Rebounds Players Min 2pts 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts Tyrese Haliburton 18:56 0/0 1/2 0/0 1 1 2 7 2 1 1 2 3 Mikal Bridges 26:26 3/5 2/0. 3 2/2 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 2 14 Cameron Johnson 10:58 0/0 1/2 0/0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 Brandon Ingram 17:34 5/6 0/2 0/0 1 1 2 1 2 0 1 1 10 Paolo Banchero 16:33 3/4 0/0 0/0 0 2 2 2 0 1 2 0 6 Bobby Portis Jr 10:37 3/4 0/0 1/1 0 5 5 2 2 0 1 0 7 Anthony Edwards 28:40 9/13 5/13 2/4 0 1 1 2 3 3 2 1 35 Jalen Brunson 11:00 3/7 1/3 5/6 1 3 4 7 3 1 0 0 14 Josh Hart 13:15 0/1 0/0 0/0 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 Jaren Jackson Jr 15:26 0/1 1/2 0/0 0 1 1 3 5 1 1 0 3 Walker Kessler 05:53 1/1 0/0 0/1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 2 Austin Reaves 12:42 1/2 0/2 5/5 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 7 Lithuania Shots Rebounds Players Min 2pts 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts Margiris Normantas 21:03 2/3 0/1 2/2 0 1 1 4 3 1 2 0 6 Tadas Sedekerskis 22:44 2/7 1/2 4/6 7 11 0 1 0 0 0 11 Ignas Brazdeikis 21:44 3/7 1/3 2/2 1 1 2 4 3 1 0 0 11 Gabrielius Maldunas Rokas Jokubaitis 22:34 2/6 1/2 2/2 6 0 1 2 0 9 Jonas Valanciunas 19:04 3/5 1/1 3/5 0 7 7 0 4 0 4 2 12 Mindaugas Kuzminskas 14:45 3/5 2/3 2/2 0 14 Give Motiejunas 20:38 3/5 1/1 0/0 1 2 3 3 3 2 3 0 9 Eimantas Bless 16:06 1/2 2/5 2/2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 10 Vaidas Kariniauskas 17:26 3/5 2/2 3/4 3 1 4 2 2 0 2 0 15 Thomas Dimsa 17:37 1/1 3/4 0/0 1 3 4 1 2 1 1 0 11 Deividas Sirvydis 06:1 /1 0/1 0/0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2
2023-09-03 14:43:00
#Heroic #Lithuania #brings #United #States
