While most eyes were on Greece’s match with bitter historical rivals Turkey on Tuesday, the real excitement was taking place in Group D, with Lithuania rallying from an 18-point deficit to beat Spain 76-73.
Down 64-55 at the beginning of the final quarter, Jonas Maciulis (13 points) turned the tempo with two steals leading to two massive dunks.
The momentum continued to build, with Lithuania tying the score twice (66-66, 71-71), before Linas Kleiza (17 points, 8 rebounds) finally claimed the lead for the Lithuanians with 21.2 seconds remaining, leading to scenes of jubilation at the Halkapinar Arena.
They would not let the lead slip, pulling off the unlikeliest of victories.
“I am really proud to win this game. It was a heck of a game and I am so happy for our boys to be able to come back,” an exhausted Martynas Pocious (13 points) said.
The game against Greece was the game all Turkish fans had been waiting for, with their team able to deliver, upsetting the Greeks 76-65 on the back of an inspired performance from Ersan Ilyasova, who top-scored for the Turks with 26 points.
Earlier in the day, Russia were made to fight hard for their victory over the Ivory Coast, winning by just six points, 72-66. Evgeny Voronov was top scorer for the Russians with 19.
After the game, Russia coach David Blatt, who yesterday announced this would be his last tournament in charge, admitted his team are under strength in Turkey.
“We don’t have the kind of team that can win a medal, but we have the kind of team that can fight hard and make the people at home proud,” he said.
In the only other Group C match, a poor rebounding effort from China, grabbing just 29 compared with Puerto Rico’s 44, would again prove costly as the Puerto Ricans pulled out to an eventual 84-76 victory.
Yi Jianlian again carried China with 24 points, while Angel Vassallo top-scored with 22 for Puerto Rico.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand started Group D action, needing to beat Lebanon to have any realistic chance of moving through to the round-of-16.
The game held extra significance as former New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin came up against his former side for the first time. It was not to be a happy night for Baldwin, with New Zealand running riot over his Lebanese side 108-76.
The tournament’s top point scorer to date, Kirk Penney, again led the point scoring with 26.
Baldwin was gracious in defeat, complimenting the opposition.
“It is the most polished performance I have ever seen from a New Zealand side,” he said.
The second game of the day in Group D could not have been a bigger contrast to the first as the French struggled against a determined Canada, only claiming the lead late to win 68-63.
Nicolas Batum was the only Frenchman to break double figures, finishing with 24 points.
It is the second close game to go against the Canadians and they need to find something special in their remaining two games to avoid going home early.
One shining light for the Canadians was the performance of 19-year-old Kelly Olynyk, who claimed 13 points, after playing for just eight seconds in Canada’s opening two games.
Olynyk’s teammate Levon Kendall was full of praise for the youngster after the game.
“He [Olynyk] was great. He shows a lot of courage for his guy his age. Hopefully, he can now do it on a consistent basis,” Kendall said.
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