Lithuania Still Undefeated at 3-0
Six days into the Men’s Basketball competition of the 2016 Olympic Games several surprises and story lines have already begun to unfold. Spain’s slow start, Australia’s stiff challenge to the USA, and now Lithuania’s 3-0 surge have all been eye-openers thus far. The USA team still looks formidable, but the race for which teams will share the podium with them still remains within the mists of uncertainty.
Brazil vs. Croatia, 76-80
This could have been dubbed the “Bojan Bogdanovic Show” with the Croatian scorer doing what he does best, score. Bogdanovic lit up the scoreboard and torched his hosts with 33 points, six rebounds and three assists. It was not a one-man show. Dario Saric got in on the action as well. He was three dimes short of a triple-double performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
It was Saric’s defense that helped secure the win for Croatia. His defensive stop in the fourth quarter stall Brazil’s attempt at eating into his team’s single digit advantage. Still, it was Bogdanovic’s heavy lifting on the offensive end of the floor that carried Croatia through this one. His efficient scoring from both the field and the free-throw line gave Brazil a headache they could not address in a timely manner.
Nigeria vs. Spain, 87-96
Spain was finally able to shake off its slow start in the competition and get its first win on the board. This did not come easy though, as the Spaniards were almost stunned by a massive run by Nigeria in the second period. It also did not do Spain any favors that Pau Gasol had to sit on the bench after receiving a technical foul for arguing a call with a referee. Chamberlain Oguchi was huge for Nigeria. His three-point shooting was on point for the night and he led his team with a game-high 24 points and four assists.
Their two silver medal Olympic finishes in the past gave them the experience necessary to weather the storm and come back in the fourth period with some impressive play. Unfortunately for Nigeria, Oguchi’s strong play was not enough to carry them through to victory. Juan Carlos Navarro stepped up and lit the fire for Spain in the fourth quarter.
After falling 0-2 to start, this was a much needed win for Spain. This could mark a turnaround for them and set them on the right track, but then again at this top-level of competition almost anything can happen.
Lithuania vs. Argentina, 81-73
Two teams at 2-0 went head-to-head in this one and only one squad would be leaving the arena with their record remaining unscathed. After a tightly contested game, it was Lithuania which would emerge victorious and join the USA with identical 3-0 slates.
The game remained very close in the beginning with Lithuania managing a slim three point advantage heading into halftime, 30-27. The crucial point in the game came in the third quarter, when Mindaugas Kuzminskas sparked a 12-3 run for Lithuania, allowing them to pull away and gain a more comfortable buffer on the scoreboard. Argentina has played solid basketball so far and were not about to just let Lithuania sneak up and grab an upset. Argentina mounted their own run in the fourth quarter and take the lead to a manageable 61-59 with a bit over a period left on the clock. The young Lithuanian squad was able to surge with over four minutes left in regulation to re-take the lead. Manu Ginobili missed some key free throws and Lithuania escaped with the win.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas was a beast with 23 points and five rebounds. Ginobili scored 22 points of his own for Argentina.