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EuroBasket

Lithuania denies its Latvian neighbor a successful run in its Euro

EuroBasket - Lithuania eliminated its Latvian neighbor in the round of 16 of EuroBasket 2025. Affected by injuries and trailing throughout, Luca Banchi's team failed to build on its fifth place finish at the 2023 World Cup, despite Kristaps Porzingis's return (34 points).
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Lithuania denies its Latvian neighbor a successful run in its Euro
Photo Credit : Julie Dumélié

Two years after finishing fifth at the 2023 World Cup, Latvia had big dreams for its EuroBasket, hosted at home in Riga. But the Baltic adventure ends in the round of 16. Defeated by their Lithuanian neighbors (79-88) this Saturday, September 6, Luca Banchi’s players won’t see the third week of competition.

– Round of 16

Arnas Velicka, the hero

With Rokas Jokubaitis out for the rest of the Euro, Lithuania got off to a great start thanks to their new starting point guard, Arnas Velicka (6’5″, 25). The former Champagne Basket player quickly scored 9 points, including 6 on two step-back 3-pointers, allowing his team to take off (7-0). While the hosts fought to catch up, they accumulated mistakes to trail by 10 after one quarter (18-28).

Porzingis, 39 efficiency rating in vain

Thanks to the efforts of an aggressive but sometimes overwhelmed and not always efficient Kristaps Porzingis (34 points on 10/22 shooting and 10/15 free throws, 19 rebounds and 2 blocks for a 39 efficiency rating in 33 minutes), the Latvians finally came within one possession during the second quarter (34-36). However, the last two minutes of the first half proved disastrous for the hosts, who went into halftime down by 10 points (37-47).

2022 World Cup hero Artūrs Žagars had a terrible round of 16
2022 World Cup hero Artūrs Žagars had a terrible round of 16 (photo: Julie Dumélié)

Without an inside presence due to the absence of 2023 heroes Andrejs Grazulis and Rodions Kurucs, the Latvians had to live and die by the 3-point shot (11/35, only 8 points in the paint). Down by 15, they came back thanks to a hot streak from former ASVEL player Rihards Lomazs (21 points on 8/19 shooting and 7 assists for a 19 efficiency rating in 35 minutes). But his future teammate’s team had the last word. Sporting a head bandage like Alex Caruso after being hit in the head, Arnas Velicka continued to find holes in the Latvian defense to finish with a big double-double (21 points and 11 assists). Well supported by Azuolas Tubelis (18 points and 12 rebounds for a 27 efficiency rating), the Kaunas native led his team to the quarter-finals.

Lithuania will face the winner of Greece – Israel on Tuesday. At stake for them is their first EuroBasket semi-final in 10 years, in Lille.

In Riga,

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Image Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
Lithuania denies its Latvian neighbor a successful run in its Euro