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The Lithuanian team (4/2) led by Darius Maskoliūnas managed to avoid an extraordinary fiasco in Group C of the European Championship selection competition.
Lithuanians participated in the decisive match of the last quarter and with the help of success 77:76 (25:19, 16:18, 17:23, 19:16) beat Denmark, who had lost a historic opportunity (2/4).
Match progress:
The Lithuanians started the match with five unanswered points, and Danish attempts to get closer were still resisted. This was done by Mantas Kalnietis, later – Jonas Mačiulis, Marekas Blaževičius also scored 14: 6. The tall man was active, and the Lithuanians continued to lead, although the mood was somewhat spoiled by Sebastian Aris’ triple – 19:24. After the first half, Lithuania led 25:19.
The Danes began to breathe on the backs of the Lithuanians (24:25), and Philip Hertz compared the result – 27:27. Mantas Kalnietis once again advanced the Lithuanian team by two long shots (35:29), but it was difficult to break more. Adam Darboe again closed the gap (35:39), but was answered by Jonas Mačiulis, it is true that Kevin Larsen’s shot also achieved the goal – 37:41. Thus ended the second part.
It wasn’t easy for ours either after a long break. The Danes made three free throws on two occasions, and after K Larsen’s colon they came closer to 47:48. The last basketball player of the Danish team continued to be surprised: he scored 8 more points in a row and the opponents broke at 55:50. After a minute of rest, the Lithuanians managed to get a little closer, but the Danes kept going 60:58.
In the first half of the fourth quarter, the Lithuanian team showed good defense and did not miss more than 4 minutes, but scored 8 points and took a 66:60 lead. True, the Danes did not give up and after K. Larsen’s three-point approach again – 66:69. After 37 minutes of play, our counterattack was impressive and was only stopped by a shocking foul. Ph.Hertz scored 5 unanswered points, and A. Darboe stabbed another long shot. At the end of the showdown, the Danish team had the opportunity to create a miracle, but M. Kalnietis blocked the opponent’s shot from under the basket and allowed the Lithuanians to win a place in the European Championship. 77:76.
Kalnietis blankets with the HUGE BLOCK to ship @ltu_basketball 🇱🇹 to #EuroBasket 2022! pic.twitter.com/lIQJvYrJrC
– FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) February 22, 2021
Denmark: Kevin Larsen 21 (3/3 from three points, 6 backs), Adam Darboe 20 (6 backs), Philip Hertz (2/6 from three points) and John Zohore (10 backs) after 12.
Lithuania: Mantas Kalnietis 11 (3/6 three points, 6 res.), Vaidas Kariniauskas (4/8 two points), Jonas Mačiulis (6 reb.) And Tomas Dimša 10 each.
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