babixshannao8
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Registered: Apr 2004
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Redemption came from the perfect spot for Sarunas Jasikevicius. The Lithuanian guard, whose off-target 3-pointer kept his team from pulling off the biggest upset of the Sydney Olympics, didn't miss when it counted Saturday night in a thrilling 94-90 victory against the United States.
He hit three in a row from behind the arc as the fourth quarter wound down, including a rare four-point play that put his team ahead to stay. He finished with 28 points.
The loss was the second of the Athens Games for the Americans, matching their total from the country's first 68 years of Olympic competition. But Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson and their teammates still can make it to the quarterfinals with a victory over Angola on Monday.
The Americans gave their best all-around performance of these Olympics and led for most of the game, but they missed 11 of 33 foul shots to allow Lithuania to stay close.
Lithuania went 10-for-10 from the line in the fourth quarter before Jasikevicius was fouled on a 3-pointer with 2:47 left and hit the foul shot. After a miss by Iverson, Jasikevicius made another long-range shot to make it 88-84.
Richard Jefferson answered with a 3, but Jasikevicius wasn't done. He made another 3-pointer to restore a four-point edge. A turnover by Stephon Marbury was followed by a pair of foul shots by Jasikevicius to make it 93-87 with 57 seconds left.
Lithuania improved to 4-0, clinching the top spot in Group A and joining Spain as the only two unbeaten teams. Saulius Strombergas added 16 points and Ramunas Siskauskas had 14.
Jefferson returned to the starting lineup and led the U.S. team with 20 points. Duncan added 16.
"We have to play four quarters of our best basketball, or it's going to be kind of ugly," U.S. coach Larry Brown had predicted.
The Americans were anything but ugly, finding ways to penetrate the zone defense, using their defense to create turnovers and generally looking as crisp for 40 minutes as they have since coming together for training camp late last month.
But it still wasn't good enough against an opponent with more experience playing together and more poise down the stretch.
Although Lithuania hit six of its first seven shots and nine of 12, its players were sloppy with the ball and committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter - including a totally unnecessary behind-the-back pass on a 3-on-1 break that sailed out of bounds.
Dwyane Wade's steal and dunk gave the U.S. team its first lead, 24-22, and three of Lithuania's top big men were in foul trouble before the second quarter began.
The Americans got their lead up to 10 points by beating Lithuania on the boards and creating high-tempo baskets with their defense. They were ahead 49-44 at intermission after a last-second 3-pointer by Lamar Odom.
The Americans stayed ahead throughout the third quarter, but they missed an opportunity to pull away by missing six free throws when Lithuanian big men Darius Songaila, Mindaugas Zukauskas and Saulius Strombergas all picked up their fourth fouls.
Lithuania trailed just 69-67 after three quarters and tied it on the first possession of the fourth. Neither team led by more than two until Iverson hit a 15-footer, Jasikevicius missed a rushed 3-pointer and Iverson sank a 3 from the left wing to make it 79-75 with 4:55 left.
The lead grew to five, but Lithuania kept making free throws before Jasikevicius took over.
Lithuania assistant coach Donn Nelson, the president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, watched the game from the stands. After Lithuania's close call against the United States in Sydney, he said he'd never coach another game against his home country.
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
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//- Never give up on the things that make you smile. <3 |
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08-21-2004 09:10 PM
