Latvia and Lithuania will face each other in a thrilling match for the fifth place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Saturday, September 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Both teams have shown impressive performances in the tournament, but only one will end their campaign on a high note.
Latvia’s road to the fifth place game
Latvia is making its debut in the FIBA World Cup and has exceeded expectations by reaching the fifth place game. They finished second in Group H behind France, beating Canada and Lebanon. They then advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Slovenia in a close game, 86-83. However, they fell short against Germany in the quarterfinals, losing 77-84.
Latvia’s strength lies in its balanced scoring and shooting. They have five players averaging double figures in points, led by Davis Bertans with 18.4 points per game. He also leads the team in three-pointers made with 23. Rodions Kurucs is another key player for Latvia, averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has been a versatile defender and a reliable scorer for his team.
Lithuania’s road to the fifth place game
Lithuania is one of the top teams in the world and has proven its quality in the FIBA World Cup. They topped Group G with a perfect record, beating Brazil, Nigeria and Greece. They then pulled off a stunning upset over Team USA in the second round, winning 94-89. However, they could not sustain their momentum against Serbia in the semifinals, losing 82-96.
Lithuania’s main weapon is Jonas Valanciunas, who has been a dominant force inside the paint. He is averaging 23.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, ranking second in both categories in the tournament. He also has 16 double-doubles in 17 games, the most by any player. He is supported by Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He has been a consistent scorer and a solid defender for Lithuania.
Latvia vs Lithuania: Prediction and key factors
The match between Latvia and Lithuania will be a battle of contrasting styles. Latvia relies on its perimeter shooting and ball movement, while Lithuania relies on its interior scoring and rebounding. Both teams have experienced players who can make big plays in clutch situations.
The key factors that will decide the outcome of the game are:
- Three-point shooting: Latvia is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the tournament, averaging 13.4 made threes per game at a 40.7% clip. They have six players who have made at least 10 threes in the tournament, led by Davis Bertans with 23. Lithuania, on the other hand, is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the tournament, averaging only 7.4 made threes per game at a 31% clip. They have only two players who have made at least 10 threes in the tournament, led by Mindaugas Kuzminskas with 14. If Latvia can make their threes at a high rate, they will have a chance to outscore Lithuania.
- Rebounding: Lithuania is one of the best rebounding teams in the tournament, averaging 45 rebounds per game, ranking third in that category. They have a +8.8 rebounding margin over their opponents, ranking second in that category. Jonas Valanciunas is the leading rebounder in the tournament with 12.9 rebounds per game, followed by Mindaugas Kuzminskas with 5.1 rebounds per game. Latvia, on the other hand, is one of the worst rebounding teams in the tournament, averaging only 36 rebounds per game, ranking 21st in that category. They have a -2 rebounding margin over their opponents, ranking 18th in that category. Rodions Kurucs is the leading rebounder for Latvia with 6.6 rebounds per game, followed by Davis Bertans with 4 rebounds per game. If Lithuania can dominate the boards and get second-chance points, they will have an advantage over Latvia.
- Bench production: Both teams have deep rosters that can contribute off the bench. Latvia has five players who average more than eight points per game off the bench, led by Rolands Smits with 12 points per game. He also leads the team in field goal percentage with 61%. Lithuania has four players who average more than seven points per game off the bench, led by Rokas Jokubaitis with 10 points per game. He also leads the team in assists with 4.1 per game. The bench production will be crucial for both teams to maintain their energy and momentum throughout the game.
Based on these factors, the prediction for the game is:
- Latvia 85-89 Lithuania: Lithuania will edge out Latvia in a close and exciting game, thanks to their superior rebounding and interior scoring. Jonas Valanciunas will have another double-double performance and lead his team to the fifth place in the FIBA World Cup. Davis Bertans will have a strong game for Latvia, but it will not be enough to overcome Lithuania’s size and strength.
