Zalgiris Kaunas recorded their second win in the Betsafe-LKL semi-final series. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated CBet Jonava 98-74 (26-18, 27-28, 31-13, 14-15). The third game of the 3-game series will be played on Tuesday, 3 June, at Zalgirio Arena.
Ignas Brazdeikis, Sylvain Francisco, Arnas Butkevicius and Laurynas Birutis opened the game with two-pointers to make it 8-0. Birutis dunked again, Alen Smailagic scored 4 points, and Brazdeikis added a two-pointer to make it 17-11. Edgaras Ulanovas, Matt Mitchell and Deividas Sirvydis finished the first quarter with three-pointers, 26-18.
At the beginning of the second period, only Mitchell scored for Zalgiris, and the hosts took advantage of it to get in front, 28-29. Butkevicius returned the lead to Kaunas with a three-pointer, Francisco drove to the basket, Smailagic made a putback layup, 35-33. Then Francisco made three three-pointers, Ulanovas sank free throws, Butkevicius hit a three-pointer from the corner, and Sirvydis made a perfect pass to Smailagic for a 2+1, 53-46.
Zalgiris started the third quarter with a high-octane offense: Bryant Dunston dunked after a pass from Ulanovas, Brazdeikis scored 7 points, Dunston converted offensive rebounds into points, 64-48. Ulanovas sank free throws and Brazdeikis continued his great performance with 5 more points, 71-50. Butkevicius took the baton from him, making 2 more three-pointers, Birutis dunked it home and Isaiah Wong added 4 points in a row, 84-59.
Sirvydis collected 4 points, Birutis scored after a fantastic pass from Francisco, and Wong and Sirvydis increased the lead to 30 points with three-pointers, 96-66. However, in the remaining 5 minutes, only one free throw each by Mitchell and Smailagic reached the goal and the scoreboard showed the final score 98-74.
Brazdeikis led with 16 points. Butkevicius didn’t miss from outside in 4 tries and collected 15 points. Fransisco added 13 points and 7 assists.
