Lithuania has notched its second consecutive win at the FIBA World Cup, defeating Mexico 96:66 in the second round of Group D.
Rokas Jokubaitis and Jonas Valanciunas were the driving forces behind their team’s triumph, each contributing 15 points to the scoreboard.
Lithuania seized control early, launching the game with an 8:0 lead. While Mexico managed to narrow the gap to 13:11, the Lithuanian team responded with a 19:6 run, establishing a 15-point advantage. The lead was comfortably maintained throughout the second quarter, resulting in a 53:34 lead for Lithuania at halftime.
They really said, "anything you can do, I can do better." ๐#FIBAWC x #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/bfCobfuSSy
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 27, 2023
In the third quarter, Mexico briefly threatened Lithuania’s lead by embarking on a 13-3 run, reducing the deficit to 13 points. Nevertheless, Lithuania remained in control for the majority of the second half, smoothly securing the victory.
Rokas Jokubaitis concluded the game with 15 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Mindaugas Kuzminskas also delivered an excellent performance for Lithuania, contributing 14 points. Gabriel Giron led the scoring for Mexico with 13 points, while Orlando Mendez, Israel Gutierrez, and Pako Cruz each added 11 points.
In the upcoming third round, scheduled for August 29th, Lithuania will face Montenegro in a match that will determine the group’s leader. Meanwhile, Mexico will seek their first victory of the tournament in a showdown against Egypt. As the FIBA World Cup progresses, the competition continues to heat up as teams strive to advance to the next stage.