IZMIR, Turkey (AP) — Jonas Maciulis had 19 points and Linas Kleiza added 15 points as Lithuania beat France 69-55 Wednesday to clinch top spot in Group D at the basketball world championship.
Lithuania (4-0) handed France (3-1) its first defeat.
Down 30-24 at halftime, Lithuania took a 35-32 lead three minutes into the third on Martynus Pocius’ 3-point shot. It built its lead as France missed eight of 13 field goal attempts and three of four free-throw attempts in the quarter.
Nicolas Batum led France with 13 points.
After playing Lebanon on Thursday, Lithuania will face the fourth seed of Group C — likely Greece, Russia, China or Puerto Rico — in Istanbul on Tuesday.
