As of: 09/04/2022 05:34 p.m
The German basketball team also won their third European Championship game against Lithuania – after two extra hours. But a protest dampens the joy somewhat.
In front of more than 18,000 spectators, including around 5,000 from Lithuania, the DBB team won on Sunday (September 4th, 2022) in the Cologne Arena with 109:107 after two extra hours (89:89, 46:41). It was the first German victory against Lithuania after eight defeats in a row.
“We felt resistance here and there. But Lithuania is a good team. They can play really well. We had to fight our way through. We played well as a team,” said national coach Gordon Herbert at MagentaSport. Meanwhile, NBA shooting star Franz Wagner received extra praise: “It’s hard to believe that he’s only 21 years old.”
Wagner best German pitcher
Wagner was the best German scorer against Lithuania with 32 points. Jonas Valanciunas scored 34 points for the visitors. Due to the third success in the third group game, the Germans in “hammer group” B can only theoretically be deprived of their ticket for the final round in Berlin (from September 10th). Should underdog Hungary lose against France on Sunday evening (8.30 p.m.) as expected, Germany would certainly be in the next round.
So on Tuesday (September 6th, 2022) against European champion Slovenia about NBA superstar Luka Doncic it is probably about the preliminary decision in the fight for group victory. A good placement is important in order to avoid Spain and Turkey in the round of 16 if possible. After the convincing successes against France, Bosnia-Herzegovina and now Lithuania, the Germans continue to dream of their third European Championship medal after gold in 1993 and silver in 2005.
Open exchange of blows
The home advantage against the Lithuanians, who were under massive pressure after two opening defeats, was not as great as before. Once again, several thousand hot-blooded fans in green and yellow supported the three-time European champion and mercilessly booed the Germans at the team presentation. And they saw an open exchange of blows from the start, in which Germany were carried by Maodo Lo after a few unfocused minutes.
The Berliner, who came off the bench for Schröder, repeatedly pushed for the basket at lightning speed and was always dangerous from beyond the three-point line. While the defense got better access, the offense also delivered reliably, which was guided by Wagner, who played like unleashed. The Orlando Magic professional, who scored 18 points in the first round, made two spectacular saves from outside and made a significant contribution to the half-time lead.
Valanciunas difficult to control
Germany continued to score reliably after the break, but Lithuania kept getting stronger – also because the Germans got into foul problems. In particular, NBA professional Valanciunas was very difficult to control under the basket, and the Lithuanian three fell better. The momentum threatened to tip over several times, Schröder and Co. saved a point lead in the final quarter.
There Wagner came up trumps again, hitting a three to make it 76:72 before Lithuania fought its way into overtime in a wild final phase. In overtime, the Lithuanians quickly drew back to three points, but Germany always stayed close and equalized 30 seconds before the end with an “And One” from Schröder (96:96). In the second overtime, too, the captain kept his nerve and scored a three-pointer to make it 101:96. Lo put the lid on with two goals “from downtown” in the final two minutes.
Lithuania lodges a protest
Small blemish: Lithuania has officially lodged a protest against the game rating. This was confirmed by coach Kazys Maksvytis. The Lithuanians criticized that they had not been awarded an additional free throw after a technical foul against the German bench. The European federation will now deal with the protest.
Source: sportschau.de