By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In what might be considered as an unofficial rematch of the Eurobasket 2015 Final, Lithuania took a 87 – 83 overtime victory in a prep game against Spain that took place in Kaunas. Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Marc Gasol and Pau Ribas were sidelined for the “Furia Roja” while Alex Abrines also did not play.
The Lithuanian national team got a head start in the beginning of the extra period with a 7 – 2 partial score and never looked back until the end of the match. Previously, Sergio Llull was the one to give the game a five-minute extension by banging a three-point basket with 4 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.
Mantas Kalnietis paced the winners with 24 points and 5 assists, while Jonas Valanciunas registered a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, also adding 2 steals and 2 blocks. Oklahoma Thunder asset Domantas Sabonis delivered his best performance with his country’s national team, finishing the match with 14 points and 8 rebounds and showing a good deal of his offensive skills range.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Sergio Rodriguez was the top player for the Spanish national team with 14 points plus 6 assists. Sergio Llull (11 points 3 assists), Felipe Reyes (10 points) and Willy Hernangomez (10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Nikola Mirotic (1o points, 6 rebounds) also scored in double-digit numbers.