The FIBA Intercontinental Cup came to a thrilling conclusion at Beijing National Indoor Stadium. In a fiercely contested world championship grand final with a heart-stopping finish, Rytas Vilnius fell just short against NBA G League United, 86:89, capturing the tournament’s silver medals.
The American squad opened with high-tempo transition play, as Phillip Wheeler scored six quick points (0:6). Michael Devoe got Vilnius on the scoreboard with a driving layup (2:6), and Gytis Radzevičius spotted Kay Bruhnke for a triple (5:6). After Lester Quinones and Caleb Grill struck from beyond the arc (10:16), Augustas Marčiulionis came up with a steal and found Matas Jogėla on the fast break (12:16). Ricky Lindo Jr. converted an and-one play off a Jogėla pass (18:22), but baskets by John Ukomadu and Jordan Johnson allowed the opponents to close out the opening frame ahead, 18:24.
Vilnius showed tremendous grit in the second quarter. Inside scoring by Artūras Gudaitis and a basket by Bruhnke ignited the comeback (21:24), with Gudaitis adding a three-point play off a Marčiulionis dish (24:27). Moments later, Devoe picked off a pass and pulled up for a transition three-pointer to knot the score at 27:27. Marčiulionis traded long-range blows with Sean East II before Gytis Masiulis took control: the forward knocked down a triple (34:35), then grabbed an offensive rebound and threw down a slam to push Vilnius ahead (36:35). With Masiulis adding free throws and Lindo Jr. securing an offensive board to set up a Radzevičius finish, Vilnius headed into the halftime interval leading 46:42.
A grueling physical battle unfolded after the break. Quinones, Eric Dixon, and a Ukomadu dunk reclaimed the lead for United (46:48), but Radzevičius sank a triple (49:49) and followed with a driving score (51:51). A Devoe dish to Masiulis kept Vilnius in front at 55:53, but the team’s offense sputtered late in the period. East II spearheaded a devastating 15:0 run with free throws and floaters (55:57), Wheeler added a dunk and a three-pointer (55:64), and free throws from Nick Jourdain alongside a Dixon basket handed the Americans a 55:68 advantage going into the final frame.
Staring down a 13-point deficit, Vilnius launched an extraordinary fourth-quarter rally. Marčiulionis set up Gudaitis inside and found Bruhnke for a three to cut into the deficit (60:68). Even when Kylor Kelley responded with seven straight points (64:77), Rytas Vilnius refused to concede: Jogėla rocked the rim with a slam (66:77), Marčiulionis attacked the basket (68:77), and Masiulis scored off his own steal (71:78). Bruhnke calmly converted four consecutive free throws (75:78), and with two minutes remaining, Devoe drove through contact for a three-point play to tie the game at 78:78.
The closing moments delivered pure drama. When Dixon buried a three (78:81), Jogėla answered with an ice-cold triple of his own (81:81). Dixon and East II nudged the Americans back in front (81:85), but Jogėla struck again inside (83:85). After East II made two free throws (83:87), Jogėla pulled down an offensive rebound and drained an incredible, contested three-pointer with just 5 seconds left to pull within one (86:87). Forced to foul, Vilnius watched East II sink both attempts from the stripe (86:89), and Marčiulionis’ desperate buzzer-beating heave fell short.
Displaying world-class heart and resilience on the global stage, Rytas Vilnius concluded their tournament run with an 86:89 defeat to their American opponents, taking home silver in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.