Every day throughout the group phase of EuroBasket 2022, we’ll select our game of the day that is a must-watch for all basketball fans. For Day 3, it’s a clash of two big guns that lost on the opening day as France and Lithuania both aim to avoid falling to 0-2
The Game
Lithuania vs France, 3 September, Group B.
Where?
Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany
When?
14.30 CEST, 13.30 BST, 08.30 EST, 05.30 PST
Why this game?
The manner of defeat for both in the opener was awfully different. Lithuania put up a great fight against a favoured Slovenia side while France were well handled by hosts Germany. Lose this and you’re suddenly looking at Bosnia as a serious threat to knock you out of the whole competition.
In Domantas Sabonis, Jonas Valanciunas, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Theo Maledon, and Timothy Luwawu-Caborrot, this game is dripping in NBA talent yet it’s the less star-studded Lithuania that looked the better of these two in their opening day defeat.
What do the bookies say?
France are the narrowest of favourites at 7/8 compared to 15/13 for Lithuania, with Les Bleus -1.5 point favourites on the point spread
What do we say?
France are wounded which means this could go one of two ways. They are either going to wreck Lithuania or we’re going to watch an implosion. The manner of their defeat to Germany has me thinking the latter is more likely but, even in a close one, I fancy Lithuania to be more precise on the whole.
The pick
Lithuania to win straight up.
Current pick record: 1-1 straight up and 1-1 ATS
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