Rytas Vilnius opened their FIBA Intercontinental Cup campaign with a statement performance on Thursday, dismantling Shanghai Jiushi Sharks 107-66 in a game that was effectively decided before halftime. The Lithuanian champions led by 25 at the break and never allowed the Chinese side back into contention, closing out a 41-point win that ranks among the most one-sided results in the recent history of the competition.

The margin was built on defense, depth and ruthless transition basketball. Rytas turned a modest early advantage into a rout with a 23-6 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the opening minutes of the second, and from that point the only genuine question was how large the final scoreline would grow.

Match Overview

• Final score: Rytas Vilnius 107, Shanghai Jiushi Sharks 66
• Competition: FIBA Intercontinental Cup
• Date: 24 September 2026
• Result: Rytas Vilnius win by 41 points

Shanghai Jiushi Sharks arrived as continental champions with a reputation for quick perimeter shooting and aggressive guard play, but they were met with a defensive wall. Rytas contested every dribble hand-off, switched screens with discipline and forced the Sharks into early-clock shots, a pattern that repeated itself across all four quarters.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Rytas Vilnius 28-16
• Second quarter: Rytas Vilnius 27-14 (halftime: 55-30)
• Third quarter: Rytas Vilnius 26-19
• Fourth quarter: Rytas Vilnius 26-17

The opening ten minutes set the tone. Rytas scored the first seven points of the game, forced three turnovers inside the first three minutes and got into the bonus early thanks to repeated drives at the rim. Shanghai steadied briefly behind two three-pointers from the wing, trimming the deficit to 19-14, but that was as close as they would come for the remainder of the night.

The second quarter was the decisive passage. Rytas opened with a 12-0 burst, punctuated by back-to-back corner threes and a transition dunk that brought the bench to its feet and forced a timeout. The Sharks managed only 14 points in the period, their lowest output of the game, and went into the locker room staring at a 25-point deficit.

How Rytas Vilnius Built the Lead

Three factors separated the teams. First, rebounding: Rytas controlled the defensive glass, limiting second-chance opportunities and allowing their guards to push the ball immediately. Second, ball movement: the Lithuanian side finished with 27 assists on 39 made field goals, repeatedly finding the open shooter against a defense that was a step slow in rotation.

Third, and most importantly, perimeter defense. Shanghai Jiushi Sharks came into the tournament averaging a healthy volume of three-point attempts, but they were held to just 6-of-28 shooting from beyond the arc. With the outside shot neutralized and the paint protected, the Sharks had no reliable source of offense.

Standout Performers

Rokas Budrys led all scorers with 21 points, adding 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and was the game's most influential player during the decisive second-quarter run. Mindaugas Šarauskas added 18 points on efficient shooting, while Deividas Giedraitis anchored the interior with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Off the bench, Tomas Vaitkus contributed 13 points in just 18 minutes, a reminder of the depth that makes Rytas a genuine threat in this field.

For Shanghai Jiushi Sharks, Li Hongyuan top-scored with 15 points but needed 14 shot attempts to get there. Import guard Marcus Dillard was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting, well below his usual output, while Zhou Kaiwen was the only other Shark in double figures with 10. The team's assist total of 11 told its own story about how little the offense flowed.

Tactical Story

Rytas played with the kind of control that comes from familiarity. Their half-court sets featured constant off-ball movement, with big men screening at the elbows and guards curling into the paint before kicking out to shooters. When the Sharks collapsed, the extra pass was almost always made.

Defensively, the Lithuanians used a compact pick-and-roll coverage, going under screens on non-shooters and aggressively over the top on the Sharks' primary perimeter threats. The result was a frustrated, hesitant offense that settled for contested jumpers and finished the night shooting under 38% from the field.

What the Result Means for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup brings together continental club champio