By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Georgia got the win after a thriller 77-79 thanks to their clutch-shots in the end, while Lithuania with seven seconds left on the clock failed to steal the win, as Jonas Maciulis missed his three-pointer attempt.
The star: Tornike Shengelia “torched” Lithuania for 29 points hitting 10 of 14 free-throws. Zaza Pachulia added 8 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side.
The key: After managing to overcome a double-digit deficit in the 2nd quarter (37-26), Georgia, managed to get closer at half time (39-34). Ever since the game was close. Manuchar Markoishvili hit a clutch-shot with 1.22 left and the game tied at 72-72 to give the winning side the mental boost they needed to come out on top with Maciulis missing a potential 3-point game-winning buzzer-beater.
Mingandas Kuzminskaes led Lithuania with 18 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 9 points and 9 rebounds. Donatas Motiejunas arrived just hours before the game from the States, where he traveled due to the birth of his child, but then had to face the natural disaster in Houston.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)