Dominant third quarter gives Lithuania a confident win over Montenegro / News - Basketnews.com

Lithuania won the third quarter 32-15 to overcome Montenegro 90-73 in front of home fans in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Credit: BNS/Teodoras Biliūnas Credit BNS/Teodoras Biliūnas

After struggling in the first half, Lithuania decisively won the third quarter en route to a confident victory over Montenegro 90-73 (22-21, 17-15, 32-15, 19-22).

Player of the Game EFF 20 Domantas Sabonis Points 15 Accuracy 6-8 Rebounds 8 Assists 7

Both teams were going possession by possession during the entire first half with both Lithuanians and Bosnian leading at some point. Kendrick Perry could not be stopped by the European basketball powerhouse as he went perfect 4-for-4 shooting with three triples during the first 10 minutes.

However, the story changed in the second half. Leading by only three at half (49-46), the home team began to slowly but surely build the lead in the third quarter. Jonas Valanciunas dominated in the paint, a couple of players made several three-pointers in a row, and the lead boomed up to 15 (61-46) with just two minutes to go.

The third quarter ended with Lithuania leading by 20 (71-51), and the last 10 minutes were just a formality. Although Montenegro managed to cut the deficit down to 13 and caused the home team to take a timeout, it was all they could. Lithuania finished the match strongly and captured its seventh win in the Second Round of the Qualifiers.

Domantas Sabonis was the undisputed leader of the Lithuanian squad with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists on 6-for-8 shooting for 24 PIR. Valanciunas captured a strong double-double of 12 points and 14 boards to establish the dominance of the two NBA towers.

Kendrick Perry led the Montenegrin squad with 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting and 4 assists for 22 PIR.

Lithuania: Marius Grigonis 16 (2/2 2PT, 4/7 3PT), Domantas Sabonis 15 (6/8 2PT, 3/7 FT, 8 REB, 7 AST, 24 PIR), Mindaugas Kuzminskas 15 (3/4 2PT, 2/4 3PT), Arnas Butkevicius 13, Jonas Valanciunas 12 (5/11 2PT, 14 REB).

Montenegro: Kendrick Perry 21 (4/6 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 4 AST, 22 PIR), Nemanja Radovic 14 (3/4 2PT, 2/2 3PT), Marko Simonovic 13 (3/5 2PT, 1/6 3PT, 4/6 FT, 5 REB), Bojan Dubljevic 13 (4/8 2PT, 5/6 FT).

Full game highlights:

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