By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The heir of Arvydas Sabonis made what his legacy dictates! Thanks to his goal-foul Lithuania sealed a big 82-76 win over Brazil in the first game of Group B in Rio Olympics. After a 29 points come back by the hosts of the Olympic Games, Domantas Sabonis with a crucial three-point play (78-71) gave to his team the boost that was much needed in order to prevail.
However nobody expected this game to be decided in details after the first 20 minutes. The first quarter ended with a 15-5 Lithuanian run which made the score 27-17 for the players of coach Jonas Kazlauskas. That was just the start of it, as Brazil experienced a nightmare during the second quarter.
Lithuania concluded the first half leading 58-29 and shooting with 72% efficiency from the floor (21/29). The partial score of the second period was 31-12 as Brazilian defense was almost non existent. Jonas Maciulis led the charge, finishing the first half with 10 points and Mantas Kalnietis added 9.
Trailing by 29 points, Brazil had to react and did exactly that thanks to Leandro Barbosa. At the end of the third period Lithuania led 70-52 and Barbosa had scored 13 points in the quarter. A 5-0 run followed for the hosts (70-57), a big three by Renaldas Seibutis gave a breather to Lithuania but Brazil kept pushing and cut the lead to 4 points (75-71) with two minutes left. Domantas Sabonis answered with the biggest play of the game (78-71, 1.19′) and Brazil couldn’t get closer than four points (80-76) after three free throws by Marquinhos, a result of the fifth foul of Sabonis, with 13 seconds left on the clock.
Barbosa had 21 points for Brazil, Mantas Kanlietis scored 16 for Lithuania, Sabonis added 10 points and Mindaugas Kuzminskas had 8 points.
