Lithuania and Slovenia face off on Thursday morning in the FIBA World Cup 5-8 classification bracket. Both teams have been eliminated from winning the title.
Lithuania Betting Preview
Lithuania had a shocking victory against the United States two games ago, but they couldn’t follow that up with a win against Serbia. Lithuania scored 110 points against the United States and ended up winning by six points. They shot 52 percent from the field and 56 percent from behind the three point line. In the last game against Serbia, Lithuania scored only 68 points while the defense gave up 87 points on the way to the defeat. At the end of the first quarter, Lithuania was up 25-24, but the last three quarters they really struggled. Lithuania shot 42.9 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from behind the three point line. There were four different players that finished with at least 11 points.
Slovenia Betting Preview
Slovenia won their first four games of the World Cup, but since that point they have lost two games in a row. Two games ago against Germany they were defeated 100-71 and in the last game against Canada, they were defeated 100-89. On Wedensday against Canada, a bad third quarter was the difference as they were outscored 30-21. Slovenia actually shot 43.9 percent from the field and 48.4 percent from behind the three point line, but the defense really let them down. They allowed Canada to shoot 50.8 percent from the field and it’s hard to win many games when you allow opponents to do that. Luka Doncic is the star of this team and he put up 26 points, five assists, and four rebounds
Shane’s Free Pick
I’m not sure you can count on Lithuania to shoot 56 percent from behnid the three point line like they did from the United States, and they are going to struggle again here. Slovenia has Luka Doncic on their side and even though they aren’t fighting for a title now, they still have country pride, and he’s going to have a big game here. Slovenia is going to run up the score, and that will be the difference as they get the job done. Back Slovenia against the spread.