Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-16 17:11:16

(BEIJING, August 16) — With close scores throughout the game, Lithuania grabbed the lead with Linas Kleiza’s stunning three-point shots in the last quarter and beat Croatia 86-73 in a group A preliminary match of the Olympic Men’s Basketball tournament on Saturday, August 16.

Lithuania’s Mindauqas Lukauskis was the game’s high-scorer, netting 20 points and giving one assist. Kleiza was hot from behind the arc and contributed 18 points and four rebounds.

Croatia’s biggest scorer was Roko-Leni Ukic, who took 13 points and grabbed four rebounds.

The first three quarters saw the two teams keep close scores all the way, with Croatia leading by a small margin at the close of each of the first three periods 15-13, 45-42 and 62-58.

The last quarter, however, saw Lithuania take charge with four stunning three-point shots from Kleiza. The first basket helped Lithuania pull ahead one point and the second extended its lead, leaving Croatia four points behind. When Croatia later cut the gap from seven to six points, Kleiza’s third three-pointer widened it to nine. His fourth and final three-pointer of the quarter came in the last minute, extending the team’s lead to 15 points to secure its insurmountable advantage. The match ended 86-73 with Lithuania leading13 points.

Updated: 2008-08-16 16:54:51

Andrey Kirilenko (R) of Russia defends David Andersen. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)

Australia comfortably defeated Russia 95-80 in their Basketball group A match on Saturday, August 16.

The boomers pounded Russia 27-16 in the first quarter and extended their lead to 49-33 at halftime. Russia fought hard in the second half, but still lost the match 95-80.

Andrew Bogut (R) of Australia drives the ball. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)
Viktor Khryapa (L) of Russia shoots against Brad Newley. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)
David Barlow (R) of Australia drives the ball. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)
Andrew Bogut (L) of Australia vies with Aleksey. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-16 16:07:32

Vladimir Jeronimo (R) blocks Panagiotis Vasilopoulos. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)

Greece defeated Angola 102-61 in a group B match in the preliminary round of the Olympic Men’s Basketball tournament on Saturday, August 16.

Eduardo Mingas(L) of Angola lays up. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)
Theodoros Papaloukas of Greece drives the ball. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-16 13:30:37

(BEIJING, August 16) — Australia led the score throughout its group A preliminary match to beat Russia 95-80 in the Olympic Men’s Basketball tournament on Saturday, August 16.

Australia’s Andrew Bogut and CJ Bruton were the game’s highest scorers, netting 22 points apiece.

Russia’s Viktor Khryapa scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds making him the biggest contributor from their team. His teammate John-Robert Holden also took 20 points.

Australia set the pace from the beginning, reaching a 11 point lead at the end of the first period. The second quarter saw the gap widen over the ten minute period to 16 points, reaching 49-33 at the half.

However, Russia did a better job in the third quarter, gaining 22 points, two more than Australia to avoid further extending the deficit. Russia scored only one point less than Australia in the last quarter, but the gap in the first half was too much for Russia to overcome. The match finally ended 95-80 in Australia’s favor.

Updated: 2008-08-16 10:54:59

(BEIJING, August 16) — Greece defeated Angola 102-61 in a group B match in the preliminary round of the Olympic Men’s Basketball tournament on Saturday, August 16.

Angola’s Eduardo Mingas was the high scorer of the game, netting 23 points and grabbing three rebounds. His teammate Luis Costa contributed 16 points.

Ioannis Bourousis of Greece gave a stunning performance, taking 22 points in his 13 minutes on court. He made all of his ten shooting attempts and grabbed five rebounds.

The first quarter saw the two team’s scores neck-and-neck, reaching 6-5 midway and 12-11 in Greece’s favor. The next two quarters determined Angola’s loss. Greece scored 31 points in the second quarter and 38 in the third, while Angola only managed 17 and 14 respectively.

Although Angola played into better form in the fourth quarter, gaining the same 21 points as Greece, the deficit accumulated in the proceeding twenty minutes was too much to overcome. The game ended 102-61, with Greece leading a 41 point margin.

Greece centre Andreas Glyniadakis commented on the game afterward: “Angola didn’t handle our pressure and it was an easy game to get ready for China.”

When asked whether scoring 102 points was a confidence-booster going into the game against China, he replied: “I don’t know about a confidence-booster. We tried some things today that we may use against China.”

Updated: 2008-08-16 02:39:12

Players of Russia (white) and Brazil jump for the ball. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)

Russia pulled ahead in a tight game to beat Brazil 74-64 in their group A match in the preliminary round of the Olympic Women’s Basketball tournament on Friday, August 15.

Ilona Korstin of Russia tries to shoot. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)
Tatiana Shchegoleva of Russia fights for the ball. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)
Irina Osipova Russia tries to block Micaela Jacinto of Brazil. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-16 01:26:31

Chen Nan (white) of China fights for the ball. (Photo credit: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua)

China led the score throughout its group B preliminary match to beat Mali 69-48 on day four of the Olympic Women’s Basketball tournament on Friday, August 15.

Zhan Xiaoni of China falls for the ball. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)
Chen Nan (rear) blocks. (Photo credit: Li Jundong/Xinhua)