Brazdeikis, Valanciunas lead Lithuania in close home win against Spain / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Irmantas Gelūnas/BNS Credit Irmantas Gelūnas/BNS

TheLithuanian national team defeatedSpain in a close-fought battle behindIgnas Brazdeikisand Jonas Valanciunas' effort in a friendly game in Vilnius with a final score of 78-76(25-17, 14-13, 17-23, 22-23).

Player of the Game EFF 25 Jonas Valančiūnas Points 16 Accuracy 7-10 Rebounds 9 Assists 2

With 35 seconds left in the game, Lorenzo Brown tied the game (76-76) with a floater, but then next possession Ignas Brazdeikis put Lithuania back on top (78-76) with 15 seconds left.

Lorenzo Bown could have tied it again with 2 seconds left but missed the jump shot.

With 1:09 left in the final quarter, Lorenzo Brown hit a 3-pointer to reduce Lithuania's lead to 2 points (76-74) and keep Spain with a chance to win the game.

The entire fourth quarter was intense, with Lithuania leading by a few points for most of it. With 2:57 left in the quarter, Ignas Brazdeikis hit a 3-pointer to increase Lithuania's lead to 4 points (73-69), but 15 seconds later, Lorzeno Brown answered with a jump shot to reduce Lithuania's lead to 2 points (73-71).

Spain inched closer before the fourth quarter, and near the end of the third quarter after Joel Parra's 2-pointer reduced Lithuania's lead to just 2-points (55-53).

Lithuania had a strong start to the game and was leading by 15 points (19-4) already in the middle of the first quarter after Jonas Valanciunas' 4 consecutive points.

For Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points (7/9 2PT, 0/1 3PT, 2/2 FT), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Spain was led by Lorenzo Brown, who finished with 18 points (6/13 2PT, 2/3 3PT), 5 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal.

Lithuania: Jonas Valanciunas 16 (9 REB), Ignas Brazdeikis 16, Rokas Giedraitis 12, Marius Grigonis 11, Domantas Sabonis 7 (6 AST, 5 REB);

Spain: Lorenzo Brown 18 (5 AST), Dario Brizuela 12, Juancho Hernangomez 8, Sebastian Saiz 7 (5 REB), Jaime Fernandez 7, Xabier Lopez Arostegui 7.

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