USA 96 LITHUANIA 68
KYRIE IRVING (USA)
POINTS: 18*
ASSISTS: 4*
SHOOTING: 8/15 (53%)
MINUTES: 34*
For a second consecutive game, a second-half run sealed a must-win contest for the USA (8-0) as it rallied behind a 33-14 third quarter scoring advantage to secure a 96-68 victory over Lithuania (6-2) in the semifinals of the 2014 FIBA World Cup on Thursday night at Palau Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona, Spain. The win earned the USA the right to play in the gold medal game on Sept. 14 in Madrid, where it will meet the winner of tomorrow’s semifinal between Serbia (4-3) and France (5-2). Lithuania will play the loser of that game for bronze.
“It’s always an honor to play against Lithuania, one of great basketball countries. We’ve had so many good games with them,” said USA coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University).
“I thought Klay’s (Thompson) play in the first half was the biggest reason we were ahead at halftime. Then in the second half we were able to start fresh. We made a huge adjustment on the defense that helped a lot, and we didn’t give up threes; we stopped putting them on the line as much and we turned them over. The outrebounding them and turning them over I thought was the difference.
“Kyrie (Irving) was special in this game, in that third quarter he kind of got us moving and everybody started moving with him. We feel very fortunate to be going and playing on Sunday. I’m proud of my team and their effort, and hopefully we get rested and whoever we play, I hope we give them a heck of a game,” added Krzyzewski.
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers) led the USA with 18 points and four assists; while James Harden (Houston Rockets) scored all 16 of his points in the third quarter; Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors) added 16 points; and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) finished with 13 points.
*Denotes Team High