BEIJING (Olympics) – Lithuania shut down Croatia’s high-powered offense in the fourth quarter and won 86-73 to clinch first place in Group A at the Beijing Games.
 
Mindaugas Lukauskis erupted for a game-high 20 points for Lithuania, who trailed 62-58 at the end of the third quarter but stormed to their fourth successive victory over the final 10 minutes.
 
“It's a great win for us,” Lukauskis said to FIBA.com.
 
"We went into sixth gear in the fourth quarter. Everybody wants to win games at the Olympics. We knew we had to give everything we had and we did that.”
 
In the first half, Lithuania coach Ramunas Butautas said his team had been out of sorts on defense.
 
Croatia took a 29-17 lead early in the second quarter when Marin Rozic hit a three-pointer in transition.
 
Lithuania chipped away at the deficit but were still behind 43-35 with 1:14 remaining in the first half after a strong move inside by Croatia’s Marko Banic.
 
Ksistof Lavrinovic made two free throws and a three-pointer to close the gap to 43-40 and after Davor Kus made two from the line for Jasmin Repesa’s team, Marijonas Petravicius caught a pass from Ramunas Siskauskas and scored on a lay-up to make it 45-42 at half-time.
 
The third quarter was tight from start to finish with the lead changing hands four times.
 
Petravicius made one of two at the line for a 58-57 Lithuania lead, but Croatia went back in front with a Zoran Planinic three-ball and a basket in the paint from Roko-Leni Ukic.
 
Linas Kleiza popped a three-pointer and Sarunas Jasikevicius scored in the lane for a 63-62 advantage.
 
Another Kleiza three and a three-point play by Simas Jasaitis made it 69-62.
 
At the other end, Croatia found it much harder to get points.
 
Lithuania pressed home the advantage the rest of the way, going in front by 15 before settling for a 13-point triumph.
 
“In the third quarter, we started playing more aggressively on defense,” Lithuania coach Ramunas Butautus said.
 
“We made some changes, started playing faster and like a team.”
 
Lithuania killed the Croatians with their three-point shooting, burying 11 of 20 (55%) compared to just five of 17 (29%) for Repesa’s team.
 
“It was a very good game for both teams,” Repesa said.
 
“I’m really sorry about the start of the fourth quarter. For six minutes, we had a loss of concentration and Lithuania got hot and started making a lot of baskets.
 
“The Lithuania team showed one more time today why they are one of the favourites for a medal at these Olympic Games.”
 
Lukauskis was three of four from behind the arc and Kleiza, one of Lithuania’s heroes in this Olympics, four of six.
 
Kleiza finished with 18 points.
 
By topping the group, Lithuania have avoided a quarter-final against Team USA and Spain – the two leading sides in Group B.
 
Croatia have two wins and two defeats and are virtual certainties to reach the last eight as they still have a game remaining against winless Iran.
 
Croatia got 13 points from Ukic but sharpshooting guard Marko Popovic, who averaged 10 points in the Croatians’ first three games, sat out the contest through injury.

FIBA