Zalgiris Kaunas (22-2) took home another victory in the Betsafe-LKL Championship. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (12-12) by 83-79 (21-16, 18-26, 18-20, 26-17) at Zalgirio Arena.
Dovydas Giedraitis and Ignas Brazdeikis scored 4 points each for Zalgiris in the first 5 minutes, while Bryant Dunston and Laurynas Birutis added layups, 12-3. After the visitors scored 6 unanswered points, Matt Mitchell made a strong layup with a foul, 15-9. The rest of the points in the first quarter were collected from the free-throw line, with Sylvain Francisco making 4 (19-11), and Edgaras Ulanovas and Birutis hitting 1 each, 21-16.
Birutis scored after a pass from Ulanovas, but then Brazdeikis, Giedraitis and Alen Smailaigic converted only 1 free throw each, 26-23. The opponents got in front (26-28, 28-31), until the score was tied by Arnas Butkevicius and a three-pointer by Smailagic, 31-31. Butkevicius, Deividas Sirvydis and Birutis made layups (37-35), but the opponents answered with another successful stretch, which was interrupted by Mitchell’s free throws, 39-42.
Smailagic started the third quarter with 4 points, Brazdeikis scored, Smailagic and Birutis dominated under the basket, 49-52. Francisco connected on only 1 of 3 free throws, but made a three-pointer on the next possession, 53-55. At the end of the quarter, Smailagic sank a free throw and Sirvydis was accurate from mid-range, 57-62.
Sirvydis hit 1 free throw, Ulanovas added 3, Smailagic got Zalgiris in front, 63-62. The visitors responded with a 64-69 run of their own, which was interrupted by 4 points from Smailagic, a layup from Brazdeikis and a three-pointer from Francisco, 75-69. The guests came close again (75-74), but Smailagic, Francisco and Brazdeikis made no mistakes from the free-throw line, and Butkevicius sealed the victory with a dunk to make it 83-79.
Smailagic had his best scoring game in Betsafe-LKL with 21 points. Francisco added 13 points, and Brazdeikis had 12 in the win.
