Latvia lost with a score of 69:94 (11:34, 22:15, 13:23, 23:22).
The first three-point shot of the Latvian team was made by Rolands Šmits three minutes and 16 seconds later, bringing the score to 3:8.
The Latvians were having trouble attacking, but the Brazilians kept scoring. By the end of the first quarter, they had made all eight three-point shots, bringing the score to 34:11 in their favor.
The chase began with a two-pointer by Kristers Zoriks in the second quarter, and following a three-pointer by Rihards Lomaz, Latvia cut the gap to 20:36.
In the 15th minute, with the score 38:20 in favor of Brazil, Brazilian point guard Iago Santos was injured in the attack and did not return to the court.
The lead then fluctuated between 16 and 19 points until Schmits stole the ball from Marcelinho Huertas and hit a fast-break three-pointer to make it 33-47.
By the break, Lomaž had scored 13 points for the Latvian team and Šmits had scored 12. For the Brazilian team, which made nine of its 11 three-point attempts, Meindl, who also had five rebounds, and Caboclu each scored 13 points.
De Paula with a three-point throw in the 24th minute once more increased the gap to more than 20 points – 58:37, Vitor Benite in the 28th minute with two free throws restored the maximum gap in the game – 68:45, and with 57 seconds left in the quarter with a three-point throw brought the score to 71:45.
Already in the 25th minute, Latvia had accumulated its norm of fouls, and the Brazilians made 12 of 14 free throws in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, with Artur Strautins scoring the first seven points, the score fluctuated around the 20-point mark, and the Brazilians held on to the advantage they had gained in the first quarter.
Brazil will participate in the Olympic Games for the 16th time.
The Latvian men’s basketball team has only participated in the Olympic Games once before, in 1936 in Berlin. The women’s team competed in the 2008 Olympic tournament in Beijing.
The Latvian basketball players started the tournament with a victory over Georgia (83:55), but lost to the Philippines in the second match (80:89). Despite the defeat in the second game, Latvia took first place in the group, as it had the best difference in points scored and conceded (+19).
Brazil, in turn, defeated Montenegro with a score of 81:72 and lost to Cameroon (74:77), taking first place in the group.
On Saturday, in the semi-finals, Latvia defeated Cameroon (72:59), and Brazil defeated the Philippines (71:60).
Brazil were without one of their leading scorers, Raul Neto, who was injured in the opening game of the tournament.
Last summer, in the second group stage of the World Championship, Latvia defeated Brazil with a score of 104:84.
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2024-07-07 21:16:17