Zalgiris Kaunas defeated Baku Sabah 75-58 (15-17, 19-17, 18-12, 23-12) in the first friendly game of the preseason.
The visitors scored the first 4 points, while Moses Wright’s free throws and Mantas Rubstavicius’ putback opened Zalgiris’ scoring account, 4-4. Edgaras Ulanovas cut under the basket, Arnas Butkevicius created an opportunity for Wright to dunk with a behind-the-back pass in a fast break, and Ulanovas found Kajus Mikalauskas in the corner for a three-pointer, 11-4. Ignas Stombergas beat the opponents’ defense and then passed to Dustin Sleva, who was cutting under the basket, 15-14. Sabah ended the first quarter with a three-pointer at the buzzer, 15-17.
At the start of the second quarter, Ulanovas and Sleva scored, and Wright added 5 points in a row, 24-24. Ignas Brazdeikis broke through under the basket, and Sleva made a three-pointer after a pass from Jokubas Rudaitis, 29-27. Arnas Butkevicius made Zalgiris’ third three-pointer, Brazdeikis added a two-pointer, and after two quarters, the score was tied at 34-34.
Majus Bulanovas and Ulanovas added 3 points each, and Dovydas Buika found Wright with a great pass, 42-39. Mikalauskas scored 4 points, while Brazdeikis and Rubstavicius increased the lead to 9 points, 50-41. Mikalauskas scored another 2 points, but Sabah made the hail-marry shot from the center of the court at the end of the third quarter, 52-46.
Brazdeikis broke through under the basket, while Sleva and Bulanovas increased the lead with three-pointers, 60-48. Wright continued to use his strength and agility, while Bulanovas connected on a three-pointer, 67-54. Brazdeikis scored again, and Stombergas closed the game with dunks, 75-54.
Wright was the leading player in the boxscore with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Sleva and Brazdeikis added 10 points each in a win.
