By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Lithuanian fans always support their national team and delivered again in Tampere, Finland, but Germany was simply on another level.
The defending world champions trailed only twice in the game (15-13, 18-15) and against Lithuania, delivered a masterclass, getting an easy 107-88 win for a 3-0 start in the tournament, scoring for the third straight time more than 100 points.
Dennis Schroder with 26 points, Franz Wagner with 24, and Daniel Theis with 23 on 9/9 FG led a balanced effort as the winners shot with 58% in field goals until the end of the third period.
In total, Germany shot 54% in threes (19/35) with Andreas Obst finishing the game on five made in seven attempts beyond the arc and 15 points. Isaac Bonga was also fit to play despite previous concerns and added six points.
The losing side didn’t give up; however, the Germans led even by 23 points (99-76), always having an extra gear when their opponent was closing.
Rokas Jokubaitis, with 20 points and seven assists, had a good game; still, it was proven beyond any doubt that against top-level teams, he is the only point guard of Lithuania up to the task, and the German pressure on him delivered five turnovers.
Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and four rebounds, and forward Tadas Sederskeskis, who had 10 and nine assists, was injured in the closing seconds of the game. The losing team dropped to 2-1 in the Group B standings.
Photo credit: FIBA
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