The new season of Lithuanian Basketball League arrived to Zalgirio Arena, as Zalgiris Kaunas (2-0) defeated Siauliai (1-1) by 93-72 (23-20, 27-9, 20-25, 23-18).
The first points for Zalgiris were scored by the duo of Laurynas Birutis and Nigel Williams-Goss, 9-8. Moses Wright made the layup, and Maodo Lo, who made his debut in Zalgiris, broke through twice under the basket, 15-12. Azuolas Tubelis made free throws, and Wright added 6 more points at the end of the first quarter, 23-20.
Ignas Brazdeikis and Sylvain Francisco started the second quarter with accurate free throws, and Edgaras Ulanovas dunked it home, 29-23. Then Brazdeikis took over, as he sank two three-pointers and added a layup, 37-27. Dustin Sleva and Williams-Goss scored from under the basket, Lo collected 4 points, Ulanovas finished possession after a nice ball movement, and Mantas Rubstavicius closed the second quarter with a three-pointer, 50-29.
At the start of the third quarter, the hosts created a lot for Laurynas Birutis, who dunked twice and collected a total of 8 points, 60-36. Wright and Tubelis scored from under the basket (64-40), Deividas Sirvydis and Lo each made a three-pointer (70-47), but at the end of the quarter, Siauliai reduced the deficit to 70-54.
Sleva and Wright stood out at the start of the fourth quarter (74-58), Brazdeikis added a two-pointer with a foul, and Arnas Butkevicius hit a three-pointer, 80-65. Tubelis scored 5 points after beautiful passes from Francisco and Ulanovas and found Sirvydis for a three-pointer, 88-68. Francisco made a brilliant move to get to the basket, Ulanovas added a free throw, and Tubelis set up Rubstavicius for a dunk, 93-72.
Brazdeikis led the balanced scoring with 13 points. Birutis and Wright each added 12 points in the win. Lo had 11 points and 5 assists in his debut.