KLAIPEDA (Lithuania) - Italy were on the brink of a nightmare start to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers with two losses. But a Nico Mannion layup with 7.5 seconds denied Lithuania another come-from-behind victory.
Mannion's score gave Italy an 82-81 road win after losing the opening game at home to Iceland. But the Azzurri were forced to sweat it out in the waning minutes.
The world had seen Lithuania's magical comeback against Great Britain with Ignas Sargiunas draining three three-pointers in the final 9 seconds. Lithuania nearly finished another rally at home in Klaipeda.
Italy were ahead 80-74 with 87 seconds left before that man Sargiunas scored a layup with 63 seconds to go, starting to give Italy doubt. Marek Blazevic added a score of his own and it was a two-point game.
Then it was time for Arnas Velicka to do his Sargiunas impersonation with a stepback three-pointer to put Lietuva ahead 81-80 with only 13 ticks remaining.
After a timeout, the Lithuania defense just fell asleep and allowed Mannion to dart into the lane for a layup with 7.5 seconds to play.
The hosts had one more chance but Velicka's fall-away jumper was short and Italy came away with the win - and denied more Lithuania comeback magic.
FIBA