Lithuania suffers one of its worst defeats in history against Turkey

The Lithuanian men's basketball team is facing a critical juncture in their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign after a devastating 66:94 loss to Turkey in Istanbul. The defeat not only pushes them to the brink of elimination but also marks one of the most significant losses in the nation's basketball history.

From the opening minutes, Turkey dominated the game, at one point leading by as many as 29 points. Lithuania's players struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately succumbing to a 28-point deficit. This loss marks Lithuania's fourth defeat in the qualifiers, severely complicating their path to the World Cup.

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Lithuanian men's basketball team, having no hope in Istanbul, not only finds itself on the brink of elimination in the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup but also suffered one of the biggest defeats in the country's history.

This 28-point margin of defeat ranks as the sixth largest in Lithuanian basketball history. It is also the most severe loss experienced during Rimas Kurtinaitis' tenure as head coach of the national team. Historically, Lithuania's largest defeats include a 51-point loss to the U.S. Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a 50-point loss to Spain at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

To have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup, Lithuania will likely need to secure victories in all of their remaining five matches. The team's performance against Turkey has raised serious concerns about their ability to compete at the highest international level.

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Our team was outmatched and could not compete against Turkey.