Lithuania scores upset, hands USA first 2023 FIBA World Cup loss

Team USA is not invincible.

The erstwhile undefeated United States on Sunday fell to Lithuania, 110-104, in their second round face-off in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The Lithuanians had a balanced attack with nine different players scoring between 15 and nine points. All nine of those players also hit at least one three-pointer en route to a dominant shooting performance from the European team, which shot 14-of-25 (56-percent) from three.

Vaidas Kariniauskas led the way with 15 markers for Lithuania. Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 14, Jonas Valanciunas finished with 12 points and seven boards, and Tadas Sedekerskis had a double-double with 11 markers and 11 rebounds.

The US lost despite a 35-point performance from Anthony Edwards, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

Lithuania started strong and limited the Americans to just 12 points against their 31-point outburst in the first quarter. Eventually, the Lithuanians led by 21, 54-33, before they closed the first half at 54-37.

USA, however, fought back in the third period with a 15-2 run to cut their deficit, 56-52, with less than six minutes left in the quarter.

Even prior to their matchups, both teams have already advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Lithuania, though, finished on top of the group with a 5-0 record and will face Serbia in the quarterfinals on September 5, Tuesday.

The USA dropped to 4-1 with their first defeat and will be matched against Italy in the knockout stage.

The scores:

Lithuania 110 - Kariniauskas 15, Kuzminskas 14, Valanciunas 12, Brazdeikis 11, Dimsa 11, Sedekerskis 11, Bendzius 10, Jokubaitis 9, Motiejunas 9, Normantas 6, Sirvydis 2.

USA 104 - Edwards 35, Bridges 14, Brunson 14, Ingram 10, Portis 7, Reaves 7, Banchero 6, Haliburton 3, Jackson 3, Johnson 3, Kessler 2, Hart 0.

Quarters: 31-12, 54-37, 71-65, 110-104.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News