Matthew Dellavedova is in midseason form.
The recently re-signed Cavs point guard represented Australia Friday in a friendly against Lithuania. Late in the fourth quarter, Dellavedova got tangled up with Domantas Sabonis, current Gonzaga Bulldog and son of former Portland Trail Blazer and Lithuanian star center Arvydas Sabonis.
The 6-foot-4 Dellavedova switched onto the 6-10 Sabonis with under 1:30 to go in the game and Australia trailing 89-80. Sabonis tried to back Dellavedova down and Delly shoved back, adding a post-whistle swipe at the ball. The two squared off for a moment, but teammates and referees stepped in to defuse the situation.
Lithuania won the game 92-85 before a partisan crowd of 6,000 in Šiauliai, Lithuania’s fourth largest city and the unofficial capital of northern Lithuania. Dellavedova finished with three points, two rebounds, and two assists. He also committed four fouls and five turnovers in 17 minutes. It was his first game with the Aussie national team this summer.
Per the Sydney Morning Herald, Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut also got involved in some extracurriculars during the match. The Herald, however, didn’t take much issue with it:
There was also a little fire in the match with Bogut and Dellavedova clashing with Lithuanian opponents in the second half although it was more out of frustration than anything malicious.
The game was the second straight Lithuanian win over the Boomers. The sides played two warm-up games this week in advance of the 2016 Olympic qualifiers later this month.
