USA’s Defeat To Lithuania: Team USA suffered their first defeat of the competition on Sunday as they lost 110-104 to Lithuania in Manila to end the Group Phase of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Despite Anthony Edwards scoring a game-high 35 points, Lithuania defeated the United States for the first time since 1988 thanks to an explosion of 3-pointers, offensive rebounds, and second-chance points. The Americans’ poor start continued.
Remarks From The USA’s Defeat To Lithuania In World Cup
Here are five important lessons to be learned from the USA’s Defeat To Lithuania game and what they represent for the rest of the tournament.
1. USA qualifies for the Olympics despite defeat
The only thing on the line Sunday was whether the United States or Lithuania finished first or second in Group J, which would determine their quarterfinal opponent from Group I. Both teams had already qualified for the Final Phase prior to the game.
After losing on Sunday, the United States placed second in Group J and will play Italy (the Group I champion) on Tuesday.
Serbia, who placed second in Group I, will encounter Lithuania, who wins Group J.
The World Cup is a competition for the world championship as well as an Olympic qualifying event. The United States has assured a top-two finish among teams from the Americas and seals its candidature for the 2024 Paris Olympics with Serbia’s victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
You might also be interested in reading this: FIBA World Cup Teams Who Are Still Competing
2. Rebound problems after a loss
For the second game in a row, the United States was outsized by Lithuania, who also took advantage of size disparities throughout the game to thrash the Americans on the boards. Lithuania outrebounded the Americans 18-9 on offensive rebounds, outscoring them 17-2 in second-chance points, and had a 43-27 advantage in total rebounds at the end of the game.
| Category | vs. Montenegro | vs. Lithuania | Combined |
| Total Rebounds | 49-31 (-18) | 43-27 (-16) | 92-58 (-34) |
| Offensive Rebounds | 23-8 (-15) | 18-9 (-9) | 41-17 (-24) |
| Second-Chance Points | 22-3 (-19) | 17-2 (-15) | 39-5 (-34) |
Due to roster composition, Team USA is already facing a big-team Lithuania team that has six players who are 6 feet 9 inches or higher. Even worse, starting centre Jaren Jackson Jr. was penalised twice in the first three minutes of the game, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the first frame.
When the Americans were forced to double team, Lithuania took advantage of his absence with post-ups, putbacks, and kickouts to open shooters. As Lithuania relentlessly pursued him on defence, putting him up for layups and 3-pointers, Austin Reaves was played off the court.
Before finally fouling out in the fourth quarter with three points, three assists, one rebound, and no blocks, Jackson Jr. played just 15 minutes. Jackson Jr. had only one rebound in his past 36 minutes of playing time after spending 20 minutes against Montenegro without one.
3. A poor start and Lithuania’s onslaught of 3-pointers
This US team has struggled with slow starts both during the World Cup Group Phase and its exhibition trip. The Americans were unable to come back and win this game for the first time in their previous ten games together.
With a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance from outside the arc, eight assists on their 12 made baskets, and seven offensive rebounds in the opening 10 minutes of play, Lithuania surged out to a 31-12 lead after the first quarter.
Lithuania continued to shoot well from beyond the arc in the second quarter, making their last three attempts to start the game 9 for 9. It was not until 4:05 into the first half when they missed a 3-pointer. Despite winning the second quarter 25-23, the Americans were unable to make up any ground after falling well down in the first.
The Americans started the second half on a 15-2 run to trim the Lithuanian advantage to four points in the third quarter, which was a completely different scenario. Jackson Jr. squandered an opportunity to trim the deficit to one point for Team USA after scoring a 3-pointer from almost the same location only three minutes earlier. After that, Lithuania went on a 6-0 run to re-establish a double-digit advantage.
4. Edwards’ 35 points were insufficient.
Throughout the whole game, Edwards did everything he could to keep the United States within striking distance. He scored 35 points, falling three short of Kevin Durant’s Team USA World Cup record (38 points), which he set in the 2010 World Cup against Lithuania.
On Sunday, Jalen Brunson (14), Mikal Bridges (14) and Brandon Ingram (10) joined Edwards, the only US player to score in double digits in each of his country’s five World Cup games. As he pursued Lithuania’s players on the perimeter and compelled deflections and mistakes, Edwards also led Team USA with three thefts.
Lithuania inbounded the ball from the baseline with 3.5 seconds remaining on the shot clock with just under four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the US behind by six points. When Edwards swiped the ball from Mindaugas Kuzminskas after he received it on the left wing, Kuzminskas was able to recover it and rise up to make a 3-pointer as time ran out to extend the advantage back to nine points. It was a discouraging possession for the American side as they attempted a late comeback but failed due to a 3-pointer despite doing everything perfectly.
With three minutes remaining, Lithuania increased their advantage to 12 before Edwards led another USA flurry. He scored 28 points and trimmed the deficit to nine points by draining a pull-up three from the top of the key. After stealing the inbound ball, he stood up to attempt another failed three-pointer.
Edwards completed two free throws, sank a two-handed lane slam, helped Banchero make a layup, and made a step-back three-pointer during the final 2:06 of the game, but it was insufficient.
Right up until the last bell, Team USA fought hard. With 16 seconds left, Brunson’s two free throws trimmed the Lithuania advantage to four (108-104) as the US kept up its full-court press in an effort to force a turnover. At half court, Banchero picked off the inbounds pass and tossed it ahead to Josh Hart, who then dropped it to Bridges for an open corner three-pointer that would have trimmed the margin of victory to one point. However, after the shot was missed, Lithuania grabbed the long rebounds and scored the game-winning slam in transition.
5. USA suffered its first bench fight defeat
One of Team USA’s major advantages throughout this competition has been its depth. The second unit for the Americans has trounced other opposition reserves under the leadership of Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves. They have either helped the US overcome a sluggish start or built on a lead to seize control of the game.
The reserves enjoyed a 96-point advantage over the opposition benches going into Sunday’s game. However, on Sunday, Lithuania avoided a decline in performance when their starters took a break by outscoring the Americans 61-38 in bench points, with four players scoring in double figures.
- USA vs. New Zealand: 54-23 (plus-31)
- USA vs. Greece: 60-45 (plus-15)
- USA vs. Jordan: 55-18 (plus-37)
- USA vs. Montenegro: 39-26 (plus-13)
- USA vs. Lithuania: 38-61 (minus-23)
Jonas Valanciunas, a centre for the New Orleans Pelicans, led the Lithuanian starting lineup and ended with 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and four fouls in just 19 minutes. Prior to the match, it was difficult to see Lithuania defeating the US without a strong performance from Valanciunas. However, due to their advantages in size and performance, Lithuania was able to triumph, making it one of their largest victories ever as a team.
Here are the remarks from the USA’s defeat to Lithuania in World Cup. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
