By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
Lithuania achieved an incredible victory at the start of the qualifying Group D, as after a comeback they defeated Great Britain 89-88.
An amazing match was played in Great Britain, and the home crowd will remember the name of Ignas Sargiunas well, who led his team with 27 points. However, his three-pointers at the end of the match will be particularly remembered, as they recalled the legendary shots of Tracy McGrady in a Houston Rockets uniform, against San Antonio Spurs.
The hosts had 87-80 with 10 seconds remaining, when the Rytas basketball player hit his first of three three-pointers in the final stretch.
Greatest comebacks I've seen:
1995 | Reggie Miller
2004 | Tracy McGrady
2025 | Ignas Sargiūnas#FIBAWC | #StepItUp pic.twitter.com/TwuVya5xBe— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) November 27, 2025
This was followed by one point from Myles Hesson, after which Sargiunas hit a difficult three-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining, cutting it to 88-86. The hosts called a timeout, but lost the ball, which Sargiunas stole. He then shot from almost half-court for the win, made it, and thus brought great celebration to his team.
In the second match of the group, Iceland defeated Italy away with a score of 81-76.