Lithuania outsmarts Finland as Jonas Valanciunas steps back

Jonas Valanciunas caught everyone off guard by taking a step back for Lithuania at EuroBasket 2025. A tactical masterstroke by Rimas Kurtinaitis was too much for Lauri Markkanen and Finland to overcome.

It was a simple plan that caught everyone napping. Of course Rimas Kurtinaitis, a coach with about as broad a range of experience as it gets, had a surprise in store for Finland. By asking Jonas Valanciunas to take a step back, and a seat, he masterminded a decisive victory at EuroBasket 2025.

The win puts Lithuania in pole position for second place in the group. It also showed that Lithuania has no shortage of men ready to step up. Rokas Jokubaitis, Azuolas Tubelis, and Mark Blazevic all played key roles in a crucial win.

An elimination game feel

The moment it became obvious that Jonas Valanciunas was sitting on the bench, you knew this wasn’t an ordinary group game. Every player and coach will tell you they’re only looking at the next game. It was clear as day that wasn’t really the case for Lithuania or Finland when it came to EuroBasket 2025.

Valanciunas stayed at the end of the bench until Lass Tuovi decided to sit Lauri Markkanen for the first time. As soon as Rimas Kurtinaitis saw Markkanen heading to the bench, he beckoned the Denver Nuggets big man to enter. The old master was trying to rattle Tuovi but the ice cool Finn didn’t bite.

It wasn’t until there was just 1.04 left on the clock that the Utah Jazz star and Valanciunas shared the floor. This game was about more than the win. Whoever came out on top today would have pole position for second place in the group. Win today, avoid Serbia or Turkey on Saturday, dream of a medal.

Advantage LTU

It can’t be put entirely down to the decision by Kurtinaitis to sit Jonas Valanciunas, but Lithuania managed to do more to stop Lauri Markkanen early than the Finns managed to quieten JV’s impact.

In his first two stints on the floor, Markkanen managed just 5 points on 8 shots for Finland. Furthermore, the game starting sans Valanciunas seemed to shake him mentally on D. Having been the cornerstone from which the Susijengi’s half-court defence was built in the win over Montenegro, Markkanen was a lot looser here.

Valanciunas for his part was enjoying being a second or third option offensively. He made 8 points on his first five shots. Instead Kurtinaitis focused on keeping Finland guessing with Lithuania’s able supporting cast. Rokas Jokubaitis became the primary option as LTU sought to outsmart the Susijengi.

BallinEurope is ramping up its YouTube game this season. Subscribe to our channel now for player exclusives, analysis videos, and much more.

Frustrate and wait

EuroBasket is funny. Half of the visitors to this site would consider Azuolas Zubelis a household name. The other half haven’t heard of him. The Zalgiris big man had a job to do and it was to frustrate Lauri Markkanen.

It’s safe to say he did his job more than admirably. In his first ever start in a EuroBasket game, he shut the Utah Jazz man down on almost every duel. Granted, he was ably aided by support D from Marek Blazevic, but Tubelis was having his moment here.

All the while it was about patience. Tubelis and Blazevic both knew that, when called upon, Jonas Valanciunas would be there to take the load. More importantly, they knew their hard work was freeing up the Denver Nuggets man to do real damage when Markkanen sat.

BallinEurope has a book, a real life actual book called I Like it Loud, and you can buy it on Amazon now. It’s here as a book and here in Kindle form.

It was a frustrating day for Lauri Markkanen as Finland were outwitted by Lithuania at EuroBasket 2025.

Just when you thought you had all the answers…

…Lithuania went and changed the question. The assumption with this game would be how Finland’s perimeter D would handle Lithuania’s three point game. Their all out assault on the paint was a surprising addition to the EuroBasket 2025 menu, especially with Jonas Valanciunas not starting.

Lauri Markkanen was struggling. The Finns were just about keeping in touch on the scoreboard in the middle of the third. As JV finally entered the second half in the middle of the third, he looked fresh while Markkanen was breathing heavily.

The porous nature of Finland’s interior D combined with simply being outwitted. By the end of the quarter, the result felt beyond doubt. Within a few possessions of the fourth, it effectively was. Finland chased but they were left with too much to do to catch Lithuania. They say everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face. Well, Lithuania’s plan was to punch Finland in the face and it worked perfectly.

Jonas Valanciunas may have taken a step back for Lithuania but he still more than made his presence felt in their win over Finland at EuroBasket 2025.

Still a live situation

The good news for Lithuania is they will be favoured in their last group game. They take on Sweden on Wednesday and should win comfortably, with the Swedes likely becoming officially eliminated about an hour before that game tips.

The one bit of concern for Jonas Valanciunas and company is that they don’t fully control their destiny. Should Finland upset Germany on Wednesday, it goes to head to head between the three teams. In this scenario they would be level on 4-1 and 1-1-1 in H2H. Points differential might well not favour Lithuania.

After Finland’s failure tonight however, it’s hard to see even the greatest Lauri Markkanen heroics seeing off Germany on Wednesday. Lithuania have taken care of business as best they can. Sweden next, then whoever it may be in Riga. One thing is certain, they’ll have a plan.

The post Lithuania outsmarts Finland as Jonas Valanciunas steps back appeared first on BallinEurope.