Lithuania fought back from a sluggish first half to defeat Sweden 74-71 in Tampere, finishing EuroBasket 2025 Group B with a 4-1 record and advancing to Riga for the Round of 16.
Sweden came out strong, holding Lithuania to just 14 points in the first quarter and building a 12-point lead in the second. Azuolas Tubelis scored inside late in the half to trim the deficit to 36-32.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter. Jonas Valanciunas sparked a 16-4 run with a basket inside, putting Lithuania ahead midway through the frame. They outscored Sweden 21-14 to grab a narrow lead.
Sweden refused to fold and cut the margin to 54-53 heading into the fourth. The final period turned into a tense battle, but Lithuania’s defense held firm in the last two minutes to secure the win.
Valanciunas anchored the Baltic side with 18 points and 9 rebounds, converting 7 of his 11 field goal attempts and all four free throws. His physical play inside helped Lithuania erase Sweden’s early advantage.
Tubelis delivered another strong performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Gytis Radzevicius added 13 points on efficient shooting. Arnas Velicka chipped in 14 points and 7 assists, giving Lithuania steady backcourt leadership.
Sweden had its chances but could not close the game. Pelle Larsson led all scorers with 18 points, while Tobias Borg provided a spark off the bench with 13. Simon Birgander and Barra Njie combined for 18, but their late efforts came up short.
Both teams were evenly matched statistically. Lithuania shot 43% from the floor, while Sweden hit at a 44% clip. The key difference came at the free-throw line, where Lithuania went 22-for-27 compared to Sweden’s 8-for-15.
With the victory, Lithuania will carry momentum into the Round of 16. Sweden, who had already clinched advancement earlier in the day, finished group play at 1-4.
