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Nuggets' Kleiza leads Lithuania

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 10, 2008 at 12:51 p.m.

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Carmelo Anthony said Linas Kleiza was trash talking before the Olympics began.

Now, Kleiza, a Nuggets forward, really has something to talk about.

Kleiza drilled a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds to play to break a 75-75 tie as Lithuania upset defending gold medalist Argentina 79-75 in an Olympic basketball opener Sunday.

"This is definitely an important game for us," Kleiza said. "We are just a small country."

If you ask Anthony, his Nuggets teammate has a big mouth. Anthony ran into a boastful Kleiza in the athlete's village Wednesday and said Kleiza still "always trash talks to me."

Kleiza, though, was humble after his decisive three-pointer gave Lithuania a 78-75 lead. Argentina threw away the ball before Lithuania added a free throw with 1.5 seconds left.

"We're happy," said Kleiza, whose team wasn't so happy after blowing an 11-point lead with a little more than three minutes left. "At the end, we almost choked, but we were able to come out with a win, and that's what counts."

For most of the game, Kleiza, a reserve, played sparingly. He scored four points in the first three quarters and didn't have a field-goal attempt. But he added nine of his team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter, making all three of his three- point attempts.

"It's huge when you have a shooting (power forward)," said Argentina and Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who scored a game-high 19 points.

Comments

  • August 10, 2008

    10:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Myhighhorse writes:

    The bum couldnt do it for the Mcdonalds chicken nuggets so who cares

  • August 11, 2008

    7:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    myhighhorse what are you talking about? He's hit a few game winners in his time with the Nugs. and if you didn't care, why are you reading the story?

    Good for Kleiza! It would be nice to see his team go for a few rounds in the olympics. Why do they have him in as a reserve though? I'd start him if I were the coach.

  • August 11, 2008

    9:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hambone writes:

    He's a solid player. Why do you think every team that the Nuggets talk trades with ask about his availability?

  • August 11, 2008

    11:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TheSlinger writes:

    he would start on most teams in the nba. no one knows about him outside of lithuainia and denver. Myhighhorse needs take his iverson jersey off and open his eyes to the young talent on the nuggs. boyyee!

  • August 11, 2008

    3:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    Hey no need to be bashing Iverson supporters. Linas might be good but he doesn't do it night in and night out like Iverson does. The sad truth is that the Nuggets don't seem to care about winning this year as they dumped Camby and didn't make a push for a quality ball moving PG. Balkman seems to be a good pickup but the backcourt still concerns me. I wouldn't mind either starting JR or Linas if Melo could ever gaurd a two man. AI more suited to defend a Point gaurd as he keeps his hands in passing lanes and could disrupt a point gaurd starting an offense. Oh well its just my oppinion thanks for reading.