In a high-stakes showdown this Sunday, the Lithuanian national team extended its perfect run by delivering another victory. In Group J, Lithuania handed the United States its first loss of the tournament with a 100-90 result, a swing that reshaped the quarterfinal picture as Serbia and Italy awaited in the later rounds.
The day’s surprise in Group I shuffled the bracket, setting Lithuania up to meet Serbia in what could be one of the most demanding quarterfinals. The United States, already securely qualified for Paris 2024, faced Italy after a commanding performance that included a key win over Serbia and a Sunday triumph over Puerto Rico.
A flawless start for the United States was halted by Lithuania, which opened with sharp shooting and strong defense. Lithuania connected on 14 of 25 three-pointers for a 56% mark from beyond the arc, while the Americans struggled to keep pace in the early minutes.
In the battle of boards, Lithuania controlled the glass 43-27 and outscored the United States in bench production, 61-38. Vaidas Kariniauskas led Lithuania with 15 points, Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 14, and Jonas Valančiūnas contributed 12 and seven rebounds. Seven Lithuanians scored in double digits, underscoring the depth of their scoring options.
For the United States, Anthony Edwards supplied a heroic performance, finishing with 35 points as the lone bright spot in a game where other stars struggled to find rhythm. Edwards stood out as the second-highest scorer for Team USA, behind Kevin Durant’s historic 38-point game set in 2010.
Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges offered the next-best scoring totals for the Americans, each reaching 14 points, while Paolo Banchero, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had quieter afternoons, contributing modest scoring and leaving Edwards to carry the load offensively.
Lithuania began the day with hot hands against all challengers in Group J, including Egypt, Mexico, Montenegro, and Greece, delivering wins by at least 20 points in each contest and maintaining an undefeated start to the tournament. The Lithuanians surged to a perfect 9-for-9 start in the opening period as the first quarter closed with a dominant 31-12 lead, signaling the kind of control that would test the Americans late in the game.
The momentum continued in the second quarter. Cam Johnson’s early three-pointer did not derail Lithuania, which answered with a flawless nine-for-nine run from three-point range and forced fouls from the United States. Jaren Jackson Jr. provided a notable effort in the second period with a 6:19 mark on the clock, but Lithuania remained unshaken.
By the end of the first half, the United States found itself trailing by 17 points. Edwards stood as the only US player capable of matching the pace, tallying 16 of Kerr’s team’s 37 points before the break.
After halftime, the United States intensified its defense and offense. Jaren Jackson Jr. opened the third with a 9-0 burst, trimming the deficit to single digits as the Americans pushed back in search of a comeback. Brunson and Edwards carried the scoring load, but Lithuania answered with resilience, keeping the lead within sight and refusing to break under pressure.
The quarter-by-quarter narrative saw the USA storm back to a 15-2 run, narrowing the gap to five points as the third period concluded with Lithuania clinging to a 52-56 lead. The late push of the Americans did little to change the overall arc of the game, and Lithuania remained steady in the face of the pressure.
In the fourth quarter, Kariniauskas, Kuzminskas, and Brazdeikis continued to push Lithuania’s offensive cadence, extending the lead back into double figures with Bendzius delivering a crucial three-pointer to make it 88-78.
The United States mounted one final charge in the closing moments. Edwards, Brunson, and Bridges hit three-pointers in a late rally to pull within five with 35 seconds left, but the clock and Lithuania’s defense conspired to seal the victory. Lithuania retained the win and advanced with momentum into the remainder of the World Cup schedule.
In the other Sunday matchup within Group J, Montenegro defeated Greece 73-69, finishing in third place while Greece occupied the last slot. The results left Group J with Lithuania atop the standings and the United States navigating a tougher path on the road to the knockout rounds.
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