Courtesy: NBA Photo http://www.goduke.com

PAU, France (PA Ticker) - Luol Deng's long-awaited debut for the British national team came in subdued surroundings in a match closed to the public Thursday, with Great Britain losing, 65-63, to Georgia in the first of two warmup internationals between the teams ahead of their respective Eurobasket qualifying games.

Deng finished as the leading scorer for Great Britain with 19 points and Nate Reinking added 15, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as the Brits attempted to haul themselves back from a seven-point deficit.

Deng, who was cleared to play for his adopted country last October, found his introduction to senior international competition a tough one. Double- and triple-teamed whenever he drove, he shot 5-of-12 overall and connected on 2-of-7 attempts from the arc.

Great Britain coach Chris Finch commented afterward that the different spacing in the European game is something with which Deng will have to become accustomed. The 22-year-old was notably frustrated after the game, which was a scrappy, ill-tempered affair watched by only a few members of the public.

There were a few typical highlights from Deng, however. A first-half swoop to the basket off a pass from Reinking deserved a wider audience, as did a second-half drive past two defenders that almost resulted in his first dunk for his country.

The other talking point of the match concerned another NBA player, Zaza Pachulia of Atlanta, who was ejected in the third quarter for striking Great Britain backup center Eric Boateng, whose reaction also earned an ejection.

Manuchar Markoishvili led Georgia with 17 points, picking up the slack after the ejection of Pachulia, whose 12 points were instrumental in Georgia retaking the lead after the sides went to intermission tied at 32-32.