BEIJING (Olympics) - Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to tie the game but Linas Kleiza drilled a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to fire Lithuania to a 79-75 Group A triumph over Argentina.

The Baltic country did their customary damage from long range by burying 10 of 25 (40%) shots and opened up a 75-64 lead with 3:23 remaining on a pair of free throws from Sarunas Jasikevicius.

But Argentina battled back, aided by some poor execution on offense by Lithuania, and pulled level on a basket down low by Luis Scola with 1:33 to go only for Jasikevicius to spot a wide-open Kleiza at the end for the winner.

"I knew he was wide open for the shot,” Jasikevicius said. “Right before that, I put up a stupid shot, a shot that I should not have taken.

“The second time, I tried to penetrate a little bit and I saw this defender coming over. I saw that Kleiza was open but I didn't know if he would make it as it was up to his hands.”

Kleiza, who had a team-high 13 points, told FIBA.com there was never any doubt the shot was going in.

"It was not a difficult shot,” Kleiza said.

“I was open and I was able to knock it down.

"We are definitely happy, but we have a long way to go. We won against a great team but we have to forget about it.”

Jasikevicius knows harder battles are ahead but underlined the importance of the victory for Lithuania.

"Argentina is the Olympic champion and it speaks for itself,” Jasikevicius said.

“For us to start the Olympics in this way, it's incredible. Let's keep it going.

“If we are smart enough, if we are good enough, this win hopefully will give us a better chance in the quarter-final.”

Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni endured almighty struggles from three-point range with each making just one of seven.

"We didn't play intelligently as we can usually do,” said Ginobili, who had a game-high 19 points.

“We played against a good team. Lithuania gave more than we did and they took an advantage and that was that.

“To lose our first game is something that has never happened to us before.

“What we lacked is making one more shot than them. Now we must forget about this and focus on our next game (against Australia)."

Kleiza was a perfect three of three from three-point range while five other Lithuanians connected on three-balls.

They were out-rebounded 39-30.

Looking back at the Argentina comeback from an 11-point deficit, it began when Nocioni hit his only three-pointer and Jasikevicius turned the ball over.

Pablo Prigioni made two free throws, and after Robertas Javtokas missed a pair at the line, Ginobili drew a foul and went to the stripe and made two more to close the gap to 75-71.

After Kleiza rushed a shot, Ginobili missed from the arc but the ball was snatched out of the air and put in all in one motion by Carlos Delfino.

Lithuania had another bad possession and failed to get a shot off in time, allowing Scola to level the game shortly after.

Argentina twice had chances to lead but Ginobili and Nocioni missed three-pointers before Kleiza’s big shot.

Argentina fouled Ramunas Siskauskas after Scola’s errant inbounds pass and he made one of two to seal the win.

"I think we were tough for 40 minutes,” Jasikevicius said.

“They made an incredible run, we lost our heads a little bit because we had the control of the game but look, they are the Olympic champions and they have Manu Ginobili who took over the game.

“There's no question and we just have to consider ourselves lucky to have won.”

FIBA