NEW YORK (USA) - Ignas Sargiunas entered basketball's realm of 'Clutch Gods' with his amazing 9-point flourish in the last 9.8 seconds of Lithuania's game at Great Britain on Thursday night.
And in the process, became a FIBA ball legend.
Even Reggie Miller - yes, that Reggie, member of the 2024 FIBA Hall of Fame - noticed.
The former Indiana Pacers and USA Basketball superstar celebrated Sargiunas by sharing in his own Instagram story a @clutchpoints image that includes a photo of himself, another member of the 'Clutch God' family, Tracy McGrady, and the Lithuanian. "Welcome Ignas", said the former USA Basketball player and Indiana Pacers legend.
Reggie's Instagram post also includes the dramatic video of Sargiunas connecting from deep three times to save the day for his country, who stunned the Brits at the Copper Box, 88-89, in the teams' first game of the European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
It looked like Great Britain had the win in bag when Akwasi Yeboah's 2 free-throws with 15.5 seconds gave them a 87-80 lead.
But Sargiunas pulled off a basketball miracle.
First he nailed a pull-up 3 with 9.8 seconds on the clock.
After a GB timeout, Lithuania fouled Myles Hesson and he made just one of 2 free-throws, the second, to stretch the lead to 88-83.
Sargiunas made a long 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 88-86 with 3.5 seconds left and after GB again called timeout to advance the ball, the hosts messed up with they tried to inbound the rock.
It ended up in the hands of Sargiunas, who dribbled twice and launched the game-winning shot just after crossing half court.
Pacers legend Reggie Miller and Tracy McGrady - who played in the NBA for more than a decade and a half and won the 2003 FIBA AmeriCup with Team USA - were both famous for being at the center of dramatic comebacks and thrilling finishes.
Miller’s most iconic moment came in the 1995 NBA Playoffs series between the Pacers and the Knicks, when he scored a legendary 8 points in 8.9 seconds against New York.
Now the story comes full circle. This wasn’t the first time Ignas Sargiunas channeled his inner Reggie Miller. Check out the video below this paragraph. Back at EuroBasket U20 in 2019, Ignas hit a game-winning three at the buzzer in overtime against Greece.
And his celebration then? Reggie Miller’s famous choke sign.
The basketball world should have seen this coming.
FIBA