Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Lithuania pulls away from Argentina in battle of undefeated teams

Basketball - Olympics: Day 6

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 11: Mindaugas Kuzminskas #19 of Lithuania celebrates after scoring against Nicolas Laprovittola #8 of Argentina during the Men’s Basketball - Preliminary Round Group B Lithuania vs Argentina on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Mindaugus Kuzminskas scored 23 points and Renaldus Seibutis converted a three-point play and four free throws in the final minute, leading Lithuania to an 81-73 win over Argentina on Thursday night in Olympic men’s basketball.

Mantas Kalnietis added 17 for the Lithuanians, who improved to 3-0 in Group B and delighted their outnumbered but rowdy fans. After blowing a 10-point lead in the third quarter, Lithuania took control with an 8-0 run in the fourth, triggered by a 3-pointer from Jonas Maciulis.

Argentina fought back and closed within 74-71 on a basket by Facundo Campazzo. But Seibutis was fouled while making a layup by Luis Scola, who fouled out on the play. Seibutis knocked down that free throw and four more in the final 18 seconds.

Manu Ginobili scored 22 and Andres Nocioni 14 to lead Argentina, the 2004 gold medalist which suffered its first loss at the Rio Games.