Mindaugas Lukauskis doesn't play in the NBA, nor is he a Euroleague MVP like Ramunas Siskauskas or a EuroBasket legend like Sarunas Jasikevicius, the tournament's MVP back in 2003.

Lukauskis is, he says, a Lithuanian who's very grateful to be competing at the Olympics for the first time at the age of 29.

On Saturday, the Lietuvos Rytas guard scored a game-high 20 points to fire Lithuania to victory over Croatia in a clash of European teams in Group A at the Beijing Games.

"I'm very happy that the coaches selected me in this team, that they brought me to the Olympics and that my team-mates believe in me," Lukauskis said to FIBA Europe.

"To be here, representing my country at the Olympics is one of the most important things in life.

"We have great players in Lithuania, and to be included in the first squad and to step on the Wukesong Arena court to play is a beautiful dream come true."

By virtue of their 86-73 triumph over the Croatians, Lithuania clinched first place in Group A.

They have one more game on Monday against Australia before heading into the quarter-finals.

EuroBasket 2007 champions Russia crashed out of the tournament in a 95-80 defeat to Australia.

David Blatt's team fell to 1-3 in Group A and have no chance of advancing to the last eight.

Greece were 102-61 winners over Angola to improve to 3-2 in Group B, while Germany suffered a 59-55 setback to hosts China despite 24 points and 17 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki.

Spain lost in a battle of unbeatens to the USA, 119-82 in the final game on Saturday night.