Zalgiris Kaunas (17-2) needed an overtime, but Andrea Trinchieri’s team took another victory in the Betsafe-LKL Championship. Uniclub Bet - Juventus Utena (10-9) was defeated by 84-81 (21-13, 20-22, 18-22, 11-13, 14-11) at Zalgirio Arena.
Laurynas Birutis scored six points, Matt Mitchell, Edgaras Ulanovas and Dovydas Giedraitis each made a shot inside, Deividas Sirvydis added six points and Alen Smailagic closed the first quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to make it 21-13.
Giedraitis made a layup, Brady Manek scored five points, Smailagic scored a two-pointer with a foul and Isaiah Wong, who made his debut in the team, scored ten points in a row, 41-35.
Birutis started the second half with a layup, Smailagic added a free throw and a three-pointer, Sirvydis and Sylvain Francisco scored two points each, and Dovydas Buika made a long-range shot, 54-50. The opponents managed to level the score, but at the end of the quarter Sirvydis connected on a three-pointer and Giedraitis finished the quarter with a two-pointer, 59-57.
Smailagic converted a free throw, Giedraitis scored a three-pointer, but in the middle of the decisive quarter the opponents got in front, 63-65. Then Francisco made a basket, Smailagic added three free throws, Francisco tied the score, and after a missed three-pointer by the Utena players, the teams had to play overtime, 70-70.
Francisco, Brazdeikis and Giedraitis each made a two-pointer in overtime, Smailagic scored five points in a row, and Francisco’s three-pointer won the game in the last possession, 84-81.
Smailagic led the scorers with 19 points. Francisco, Giedraitis and Sirvydis each added 11 points for Zalgiris.
