Round of 16: Lithuania 88 – Latvia 79

In a Baltic derby with massive stakes, Lithuania edged hosts Latvia 88–79 to reach the quarterfinals. Kristaps Porziņģis was sensational with 34 points and 19 rebounds, dominating inside and outside, but his effort wasn’t enough.

Lithuania struck early, building a strong first-quarter lead. Latvia battled back, narrowing the gap before halftime, but a third-quarter surge from Jonas Valančiūnas and Arnas Velicka restored momentum.

Velicka was the game’s X-factor, tallying 21 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds, while posting a +15 plus/minus. In the closing minutes, baskets from Ažuolas Tubelis and Velicka sealed the win.

Key Takeaways

• Porziņģis’ brilliance kept Latvia alive but exposed their lack of depth.
• Lithuania’s balance and depth ultimately carried them through.
• Velicka’s breakout performance highlighted his growing international role.
• Lithuania advanced to face Greece in the quarterfinals.