FIBA World Cup: Knicks' Brunson, Team USA Comeback Falls Short, Advance Anyway

Team USA came up short to Lithuania in its second round closer at the FIBA Basketball World Cup despite the best intentions of New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson.

A New York Knicks point guard was guaranteed victory on Sunday in the second round finale of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila. Alas for the United States men's national basketball team, it was the one that hasn't worn blue and orange yet.

Rokas Jokubaitis, one of New York's arrivials during the 2021 draft, and his comrades from Lithuania closed out second-round play in style, taking a 110-104 decision from potential future teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the United States' group.

Among the active Knicks, Brunson had 14 points, seven assists, and four rebounds while Hart had two boards in just over 13 minutes of action. Jokubaitis had nine points and led the Lithuanians with six assists, working with four teammates who reached double-figures (including former Knick Ignas Brazdeikis with 11). 

Jalen Brunson getting crafty in the paint vs Lithuaniapic.twitter.com/JFOWLhP2Yv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 3, 2023

Both Lithuania and Team USA (4-1) were assured advancement to the eight-nation knockout tournament stage before Sunday's tip-off thanks to events from abroad. The red, white, and blue also secured a berth in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, as the Dominican Republic's loss to Serbia earlier in the day assured they'd be one of the top two American finishers.

But, in the meantime, the Lithuanians (5-0) remained perfect in World Cup play and won the second round's Group J thanks primarily to a dominant first quarter effort that saw them lead 31-12 after the first 10 minutes and a landslide victory in the rebounding battle. Despite placing leading rebounder Hart in the starting five again, Lithuania won the glass war 43-27, a lead mostly built with 18 second chances compared to only nine for the Americans (leading to an 18-2 victory in points off those offensive boards). 

Forced to play behind for most of the game, the Americans were primarily sustained by the scoring efforts of Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), whose 35 points were three short of Kevin Durant's American World Cup record set in 2010. Despite some early struggles, Brunson played a major role in the ultimately futile comeback.

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Team USA trailed by 17 at the half but Brunson's facilitation: between six points of his own and assisting on three other baskets, Brunson played a role in 13 of the 28 American points in the third quarter, which saw the Lithuanian lead shrink to as little as four. It stood as six when Brunson and the starters got some rest at the start of the fourth.

Alas, the American reserves struggled to keep Lithuania off the board in the final frame after serving as the team's energizer in Friday's narrow win over Montenegro: Team USA put up 39 in the final period but Lithuania matched them, primarily sustained by four three-pointers that always seemed to come whenever the Americans inched closer. Lithuania shot 56 percent from the outside (14-of-25) in Sunday's win and four different players hit at least two while also winning the bench scoring struggle 61-38.

By the end, Brunson's seven assists were tied for the most on Team USA with Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), his efficiency rating of 19 was second-best behind Edwards, and he was one of four Americans with a positive plus/minus (plus-4) alongside Edwards, Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis). 

Jalen Brunson operating in the post vs Montenegro pic.twitter.com/n1LMeBX6VH

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 1, 2023

Vaidas Kariniauskas was Lithuania's leading scorer with 15 points while Tadas Sedekerskis was the headliner of the all-important rebounding battle with 11. Sunday's win was Lithuania's first over the US in World Cup play since 1998, which marked the most recent edition where the Americans sent amateur players. 

Knockout round play begins on Tuesday in Manila and Team USA will face Italy at a time to be determined. The Italians earned victory in the second's Group I via tiebreaking win over Serbia on Friday and are assured of their best World Cup finish since 1998 in Greece.