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Rio de Janeiro • Jazz guard Raul Neto's first Olympic basketball game almost produced an epic comeback by the host country.
Brazil lost 82-76 to Lithuania on Sunday, but Neto played well in the second half after being promoted to the starting lineup. He played the entire half and finished with 14 points as the host team cut the margin from 29 points to four in the last two minutes, before Lithuania's Domantas Sabonis made a key three-point play.
Neto began the game as the backup to veteran point guard Marcelo Huertas, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Neto made a shot in the lane on Brazil's first possession of the second half and later hit a one-legged jumper from the left corner to beat the shot clock, followed by a 3-pointer in the furth quarter.
Brazil will meet Spain, the Group B favorite, as preliminary continues Tuesday.
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