Zalgiris Kaunas (7-1) won another game in the LKL championship. Playing without Nigel Williams-Goss, Sylvain Francisco, Maodo Lo, and Azuolas Tubelis, Zalgiris defeated Nevezis-Paskolų klubas Kedainiai (3-5) by 94-68 (21-19, 24-12, 25-25, 24-12).
At the beginning of the first quarter, Laurynas Birutis outplayed his opponent, Ignas Brazdeikis scored with one hand, Dovydas Giedraitis, who returned after an injury, scored his first point of the season, and Mantas Rubstavicius made a three-pointer, 8-8. Kajus Mikalauskas entered the court and immediately connected from mid-range, Brazdeikis broke through under the basket, and Rubstavicius hit another three-pointer, 15-11. Moses Wright scored after a pass from Deividas Sirvydis, and Arnas Butkevicius closed the first quarter with 4 points, 21-19.
Sirvydis scored 1 free throw, Edgaras Ulanovas and Butkevicius each made a three-pointer, and Dominykas Daubaris, who made his debut with the main team, immediately scored 8 points, 36-29. Dustin Sleva scored from under the basket and found Giedraitis at the three-point line, 41-29. Birutis and Giedraitis ended the second quarter with two-pointers, 45-31.
Brazdeikis opened the third quarter, Sleva scored 5 points in a row, 52-40. Zalgiris’ 12-0 run continued after Giedraitis’ two-pointer, Wright’s layup, and Brazdeikis and Giedraitis’ three-pointers, 62-40. Nevezis responded with an 8-point run, which was stopped Ulanovas’ 4 points and Sirvydis and Giedraitis’ shots, 70-56.
Ulanov tallied 3 more points, Butkevicius and Sleva added 5 each, 82-61. Brazdeikis overpowered his opponent physically, Rubstavicius sank a three-pointer, Ignas Stombergas and Daubaris blocked the home team each in a single possession, and Mikalauskas finished the fastbreak, 89-64. Stombergas also opened his scoring account, and Sirvydis scored Zalgiris’ thirteenth three-pointer, 94-68.
Giedraitis was the leading scorer for Zalgiris with 13 points. Butkevicius finished the game with 12 points. Brazdeikis and Sleva scored 11 points each.
