USA basketball falls to Lithuania

By: Vince Wilson

USA basketball falls to Lithuania with 104-110 points making it their first loss of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Games. The final score appears a lot closer than it was as Lithuania got out to a twenty-point lead in the first half. Ending the first quarter with a 31-12 lead they killed the US from behind the stripe, eventually finishing shooting a scorching 14 of 25 from three-point land. 

The US team made a valiant late-game comeback behind Anthony Edwards' efficient 35 points but Lithuanian led a balanced attack. They had seven players with double-digit production even with their best player, All-NBA Center Domantus Sabonis sitting out.

Anthony Edwards

Photo Credit: USA Basketball (via Twitter)

Lithuania's big men Valincuinas and Sedekerskis carved up the US defense as they dominated the glass combining for 18 rebounds between them. The USA’s starting center and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson managed just 1 rebound, 3 points, and 5 fouls in the loss. Being the lone bright after being relegated to a 6th man spot early on in the tournament, Edwards was the main scoring option and playmaker. Often bringing up the ball and controlling the possession with a pick-and-roll situation. USA basketball just didn’t have enough to throw at Lithuania as many possessions were last-ditch efforts to Edwards, hoping he would make something happen, which he did more often than not. 

Lithuania remained undefeated at 5-0 and stood at the top of Group J as the USA fell to 4-1 in the tournament, although still qualifying for the quarterfinals and Olympic Games. Lithuania has always been a European powerhouse, delivering the US one of the most devastating losses in our international history in 2004. The US team would never recover and stumble to a disappointing Bronze medal. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself. 

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