Lithuania, France book World Cup tickets; getting crowded behind them in Group K

MUNICH (Germany) - Hungary defeated Czech Republic to get to five wins, meaning they are just a win behind Montenegro in the battle for third. BIH are tied with Hungary, while France and Lithuania are already through to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Victor Wembanyama had another highlight game, drawing "oohs" and "ahhs" from the rest of the world, and his contribution was more than enough for France to go 2-0 in November and book a ticket to the Final Round.

Lithuania went 1-1, but even that was enough to secure their fifth straight World Cup appearance.

Group K

11/18 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	France*	10	8	2	80.0	831	620	211	83.1	62	18
2	Lithuania*	10	8	2	80.0	770	718	52	77	71.8	18
3	Montenegro	10	6	4	60.0	746	708	38	74.6	70.8	16
4	BIH	10	5	5	50.0	776	834	-58	77.6	83.4	15
5	Hungary	10	5	5	50.0	720	788	-68	72	78.8	15
6	Czech Republic	10	3	7	30.0	749	808	-59	74.9	80.8	13

Hungary v Czech Republic 83-69
Montenegro v Lithuania 56-65
France v Bosnia and Herzegovina 92-56

---

France dominant v BIH

It was business as usual for France, who are now officially aiming for the third straight podium finish at a FIBA Basketball World Cup event. They were third in Spain in 2014, they were third in China in 2019, they want even more with their wunderkind Victor Wembanyama already contributing.

The 18-year-old had a team-high 19 points on the day, Bosnia and Herzegovina had no answer for him in a 92-56 game in Palais des Sports de Pau.

Coach Vincent Collet will be happy with another youngster. The 20-year-old Juhann Begarin came off the bench to get 17 points in just 19 minutes of work as France shot 14-of-26 from beyond the arc.

BIH got 20 points from Kenan Kamenjas, but need to find their way around Montenegro over the last two games to get to the World Cup.

---

Five straight for Lithuania

Lithuania first appeared in the World Cup back in 1998, but then missed only one Final Round afterwards. The Final Round in 2023 will mark their fifth straight FIBA Basketball World Cup appearance, done with coach Kestutis Kemzura who led them to bronze in 2010.

In Montenegro, Lithuania trailed by only 19 seconds, controlled the game from start to finish and built a lead of 14 points. In a low scoring affair as this one, it felt like much more than 14. It finished 65-56, taking Lithuania to eight wins in ten games, meaning they can't finish lower than third in this group.

Vaidas Kariniauskas and Mindaugas Kuzminskas led the way with 13 points apiece. Nikola Ivanovic and Vladimir Mihailovic both had 11 points for Montenegro, who still hold third place, but drop to 6-4 ahead of the last two games.

One way street in Szombathely

Hungary collected their fifth win of the campaign, blowing out Czech Republic at home. The final score 83-69 doesn't paint the real picture, because the hosts had a 27-point lead at one point, early in the fourth quarter.

Marko Filipovity had 15 points and 5 rebounds, Mikael Hopkins scored 11, they were the only ones in double figures for Hungary, but six other players scored between seven and nine points for coach Stojan Ivkovic. Tomas Kyzlink had 21 in a losing effort.

FIBA