Lietuva.basketball website provides statistics of the head-to-head meetings between Lithuania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Although the Bosnians are not considered European basketball giants, they have been a tough challenge for our country’s representatives. Unlike with the Turks, whom they have played almost 30 times, Lithuanian basketball players have met Bosnia and Herzegovina much less frequently – only seven times. The overall balance of these encounters favors the Lithuanians, leading 5:2.
The most points scored in a single game against Bosnia and Herzegovina is by Arvydas Sabonis – 23 points. This happened in the 1999 European Championship qualifying match in Sarajevo, which Jonas Kazlauskas’ team won decisively – 87:57. By the way, this was only the second game between these two teams in history – the first took place in November 1997 in Vilnius, where the Lithuanian basketball players suffered a rather unexpected defeat (66:69).
O. Olisevičius’ record and the formidable Mirza
Among the currently called-up players to the national team, Osvaldas Olisevičius has scored the most points in a single game against the Bosnians – 18 (in the 2023 World Championship qualifying match in Tuzla, which the Lithuanians won dramatically, 78:77).
The same game marked the debut of Gytis Radzevičius for the Lithuanian national team – the forward, who played almost 20 minutes, managed to score three points and grab 6 rebounds.
In total, 45 players have worn the Lithuanian national team jersey in matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most appearances – three times each – were made by Arnas Butkevičius, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and Jonas Valančiūnas.
Although seven games have been played, perhaps the most memorable was the defeat in the 2013 European Championship group stage. The situation was such that the Lithuanian team would only miss the second stage if they lost by 10 or more points, and it was close to this tragedy actually happening.
The Bosnians, led by Mirza Teletović, who was hitting three-pointers from 9 meters, at one point in the fourth quarter led by as much as 16 points. However, the Lithuanian players managed to pull themselves together and reduced the difference to the required margin, largely thanks to Linas Kleiza, who hit two incredibly important three-pointers at a critical moment. The game was lost 72:78, but the ticket to the next stage was secured, and there the Lithuanian engine started so well that our team returned home with silver medals.
The French also helped
We experienced something similar in the recent match against the Bosnians, which took place in the 2022 European Championship. However, that time the help of the opponents was also needed. To advance to the knockout stage, the Lithuanians had to not only defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina but also wait for the Bosnians to lose to the French.
This very match, which decided everything for the Lithuanian team, took place earlier – if Bosnia and Herzegovina had defeated the French, the Lithuanian-Bosnian match would have meant nothing. However, France defeated their opponents 81:68, and then it was time for the Lithuanians to take care of things themselves. The Lithuanian basketball players coached by Kazys Maksvytis handled this task confidently, beating the Bosnians 87:70 and advancing to the European Championship round of 16.
The biggest winning margin – 21 points (94:73, Acropolis Cup tournament before the 2013 European Championship, and 77:56, qualification for the 2023 World Championship).
The biggest losing margin – 6 points (72:78, 2013 European Championship).
The smallest winning margin – 1 point (78:77, qualification for the 2023 World Championship).
The smallest losing margin – 3 points (66:69, qualification for the 1999 European Championship).
Complete list of head-to-head matches:
1. 1997-11-26 Vilnius. Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 66:69 (European Championship qualification)
2. 1998-11-25 Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 87:57 (European Championship qualification)
3. 2013-08-29 Athens (Greece). Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 94:73 (friendly, Acropolis Cup)
4. 2013-09-09 Jesenice (Slovenia). Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 72:78 (European Championship)
5. 2022-02-24 Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 78:77 (World Championship qualification)
6. 2022-02-27 Vilnius. Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 77:56 (World Championship qualification)
7. 2022-09-07 Cologne (Germany). Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 87:70 (European Championship).
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