Team USA suffered a rare loss in international competition on Sunday morning at the hands of Lithuania in what was a huge upset during the group stage of the FIBA World Cup. Naturally, the internet had plenty of thoughts on the rough showing for the Americans.
Lithuania started off scoring hot from three-point range and opened up with a large lead to start the game and never let it go. Team USA clawed its way back in large part thanks to Anthony Edwards’s superhuman 35-point performance to lead all scorers, but it wasn’t enough in the 110–104 loss.
Lithuania shot 14-for-24 (56%) from deep and dominated on the glass, out rebounding the Americans 43 to 27. The Lithuanians specifically dominated the offensive glass with 43 boards.
As a result of the loss, Team USA will now face Italy in the quarterfinals. But before that, here’s what the basketball world thought of the international upset:
Noah Lyles seeing Team USA lose to Lithuania pic.twitter.com/ObWGkOShcs
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) September 3, 2023
Noah Lyles running to twitter after Lithuania beat USA
— Le5-6 (@deepyy_) September 3, 2023
pic.twitter.com/QPBCuVUsHF
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA DEFEAT 🇺🇸 TEAM USA FOR THE SHOCK OF THE TOURNAMENT? 😱#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/3zSxQmjJIG
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) September 3, 2023
Everyone on Team USA except Anthony Edwards against Lithuania ..pic.twitter.com/XCKwJu4FJR
— Van (@vanman_1000) September 3, 2023
Austin Reaves and Team USA trying to guard Lithuania in the post this game… pic.twitter.com/tWsXY58YFC
— alex (@AlexUlrichh) September 3, 2023
Woke up and heard team USA lost to Lithuania pic.twitter.com/LZn3bN5UQE
— NewMediaSports (@NewMediaSports_) September 3, 2023
Noah Lyles seeing team USA lose to Lithuania pic.twitter.com/Whz48Ux7Sr
— vrix ✰ (@vrixfw) September 3, 2023