DONGGUAN, China, Sept. 5 -- Australia edged Lithuania 87-82 here on Thursday to win its third straight game of the 2019 FIBA World Cup and finish top of Group H.
San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills had a game-high 23 points for Australia, with Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes adding 21 points and 13 rebounds. Marius Grigonis pocketed a team-best 19 points for Lithuania.
The game between the two group favorites started with a 15-2 run for Australia, helping the Boomers lead the first quarter 27-19. Lithuania fought back at the beginning of the second quarter with a 6-0 run but Australia entered the half-time break 52-41 ahead.
Lithuania had an excellent third quarter, starting with a 5-0 run and winning nine points in a row at the beginning of the final quarter.
However, with the scores deadlocked at 76-76, Australia put together a 11-6 run deep into the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
"Every team has its goal, our goal is to win the gold medal. Every game is very important, we should make good preparation," head coach of Australia Andrej Lemanis said. "I'm proud of playing in this 'death of group', all the teams are very strong, and it's a tough challenge for us to win three games."
"Australia is one of the best teams in the World Cup, I know its players and coach. They have a good system, and they did everything good," said Dainius Adomaitis, head coach of Lithuania.
"We should change our rebounds in the halftime, we can't accept the loss in rebounds," he added. Lithuania got 32 rebounds, eight fewer than Australia.
Despite the loss, Lithuania nevertheless qualifies for the tournament's second round together with Australia, where they will take on France and the Dominican Republic.