Jolie displays in Group B at the start of the afternoon in Cologne, between Lithuania and Germany. Two very opposite situations, since Dennis Schröder’s teammates are undefeated in the group stage, while those of Domantas Sabonis have lost their first two matches. Clearly the momentum is largely in favor of the hosts, while Lithuania may be playing for survival in the competition…
At the start, the meeting is disputed, with two fluid collectives in attack and committed defenses, and it is rather pleasant. We quickly notice that the executives take time to get started: Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas compile 6 points to two, while Dennis Schröder only scored one basket. It is therefore the “role-players” who show themselves: Maodo Lô (8 points) and Daniel Theis on one side, Marius Grigonis with 5 points and 2 rebounds on the other.
After a quarter, the two teams are thus equal: 19-19.
Germany in control
But overall, you may feel a little more control on the host side, and that quickly translates: Germany signs the first break of the match (30-21) after a few minutes played in the second deed. Will follow a big passage of Jonas Valanciunas, strong man of this first period for Lithuania, which is essential easily in the painting and collects several passages on the line of free throws. The pivot of New Orleans clearly saves his group during this weak time.
At the break, the Lithuanian players are led and overall dominated, but still in the game at only -5 (46-41).
The intensity and level of play go up a notch when they return from the locker room, and then begins a crossover that will last until the end. We feel the sense of urgency with which Lithuania plays: it wins the third quarter with a score of 24-20, still relying on its stable forces Jonas Valanciunas and Marius Grigonis, and thus recovers to -1 after the half hour of play (66-65). A wake-up call from Domantas Sabonis, so discreet in the first half, helps the cause well.
Germany manages to keep the score before attacking the last quarter thanks to the always constant efforts of Maodo Lô, whose presence at the lead stabilizes the game of the Mannschaft, but especially thanks to the awakening of Franz Wagner. The Magic winger is seriously gaining power and takes the reins of the German attack: 24 points after three quarters!
Jonas Valanciunas to the rescue
Thereafter, we had to wait for the “money-time” to see clearly: until a huge award-winning shot from Franz Wagner to put the Germans at +7 (87-80) with less than three minutes remaining, there is never more than two possessions away. In a last-ditch effort, Lithuania uses a simple strategy: all the balls in the low post for Jonas Valanciunas… And it works!
The pivot chained a passage on the line of free throws then two small small “hooks” near the circle to reach the bar of 30 points, and especially to equalize at 89-89 seven seconds from the end of regulation time. Behind, Dennis Schroder misses the “game-winner” and the two formations continue their duel in extra time.
In the plural, because the first five additional minutes are not sufficient, at first, to decide between the two teams. Franz Wagner, on a “step-back” behind the arc, has the opportunity to kill the meeting, but his pellet fails on the left side of the circle (96-96).
Lithuania, one shot away from winning…
The second extra time reached an impressive level of play, and brought the match into another dimension. We first think Germany comfortably out of the woods when Maodo Lô sends two winning shots in a row to move to +5 (109-104).
But Lithuania responds immediately, with an “and-one” from Martynas Echodas, to regain possession (109-107). After a final defensive stop from Lithuania, it all came down to a final possession, confused but which ultimately resulted in a totally open shot from Arras Butkevicius in front of the German bench. The siren sounds when his shot is in the air, but the leather never comes into contact with the net…
Lithuania missed their match point and lost for the third time in as many games. Conversely, for Germany, which continues its faultless and sits temporarily alone in first place in Group B, pending the result of the match of Slovenia.
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