Linas Kleiza Vanquishes the Argentines

We told you Lithuania-Argentina might be worth staying up all night, and it lived up to the billing. The close fight ended up with Linas Kleiza of the Nuggets nailing a three with 2.1 seconds left. Argentina turned the ball over on the impending possession, lost 79-75, and now face a tough route going forward.

Manu Ginobili wasn't so hot, as Pete Thamel of the New York Times tells it.

Manu Ginobili led all scorers with 19 points, but didn't play particularly well. He gave a referee an earful after the final buzzer, pleading again for a call late in the game.

Manu, complaining about a call? No! That's not possible! Great ... now the Spurs have ruined the sanctity of international competition as well.

Lithuania isn't quite on the fast track to a pool win -- Russia awaits on Thursday, and if the Lithuanians slip up against Croatia or Australia they could find themselves tied or behind Argentina anyways. But drawing a top two seed in Group A is a priority: the #3 and #4 finishers can expect to face the United States and Spain in the quarterfinals. Lithuania is in good position, with one big win under the belt and the best fans in Beijing behind them.