Litauen vs Großbritannien

Lithuania never trailed after the opening minutes, establishing control through their NBA-calibre frontline and the sharp playmaking of their two debutants. Jonas Valančiūnas and Azuolas Tubėlis dominated the paint, combining for 41 points on 13-of-18 shooting alongside 15 rebounds and 8 assists — a combined efficiency rating of 58.

Jakucionis, who was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo just days earlier, filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in 28 minutes, posting a team-high plus-minus of +35. Buzelis, the Chicago Bull, added 12 points in 23 minutes, including emphatic transition dunks that brought the crowd of 5,288 to its feet.

Myles Hesson led Great Britain with 22 points, but the visitors could not contain Lithuania's depth or size. GB dropped to 1-4 and were eliminated from Second Round qualification.

The game was effectively decided in the second quarter. Lithuania outscored Great Britain by double digits in the period, turning a single-digit lead into a runaway. The highlight sequence came when Buzelis stripped a Great Britain ball-handler, sprinted the floor and threw down a one-handed jam — the kind of play Lithuania hoped they would get when they called up their NBA prospects.

Kasparas Jakucionis (Lithuania) – 16 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, +35 in 28 minutes. The 19-year-old point guard ran Lithuania's offence with poise rarely seen from a debutant, threading passes inside to Valančiūnas and hitting timely outside shots.

Jonas Valančiūnas (Lithuania) – The veteran centre was a force inside, finishing with efficient scoring and dominant rebounding as part of the 41-point frontline combination with Tubėlis.

Matas Buzelis (Lithuania) – 12 PTS in 23 minutes. The 6-foot-10 forward showed his athleticism in transition and provided a defensive presence that sparked fast-break opportunities.

Myles Hesson (Great Britain) – 22 PTS. The GB captain battled hard against a far deeper Lithuanian side, keeping his team competitive for stretches.

Player of the match: Kasparas Jakucionis — a complete all-around debut that set the tone for Lithuania's qualification push.

The 20-point margin reflected Lithuania's superiority in the paint and on the break. The Valančiūnas-Tubėlis duo shot 72% from the field (13/18), while GB had no answer for Lithuania's size. Jakucionis's +35 plus-minus was the game's largest — a statistical signal that Lithuania outscored Great Britain by 35 points during his 28 minutes on the floor. Lithuania's fast-break points and second-chance opportunities drove the separation.

Lithuania advance to the Second Round of World Cup qualifying with a 3-2 record. Italy (who also qualified from Group D) await Lithuania on Sunday, 5 July, in Bologna — a road test that will determine which results Lithuania carries forward. For Great Britain (1-4), elimination is confirmed. Their next fixture is also on 5 July, hosting Iceland in London, playing for pride and World Ranking points.

Lithuania got exactly what they hoped for from their NBA debutants: energy, playmaking and a statement performance. Jakucionis and Buzelis integrated seamlessly alongside veteran pillars Valančiūnas and Tubėlis, and the result was never in doubt after the first quarter. For Great Britain, the gap in talent and depth against a top-tier European side was simply too wide.