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21 Jun 05 03:30 04:30 UK |
A game-high 23 points from Julius Joseph, including five three-pointers, was not enough as England's basketballers lost 82-80 to Portugal.
Joseph, aided by Germayne Forbes' 19, was a force for England as they took a 57-38 lead in the third quarter.
But Portugal then embarked on a 28-6 run to seize the lead and hold on for a narrow win in the first game of the three-match series.
Portugal's winner came from Filipe da Silva with just 2.7 seconds remaining.
Andrew Bridge, playing his fifth game for England, scored 15 points and came close to saving the game.
With Portugal leading 74-68, he hit seven points in England's next 11 to leave the team trailing by a point with 18 seconds remaining.
Robert Reed's free throw with 12 seconds left tied the game only for Da Silva to break England's hearts.
Forbes might have won the game with a last-gasp shot from the half-way line, but the ball came back off the ring.