Zalgiris Kaunas (7-2) recorded another victory in the Betsafe-LKL Championship. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated M Basket-Delamode Mazeikiai (1-8) by 101-46 (26-8, 26-13, 24-12, 25-13) at Zalgirio Arena.
Zalgiris scored the first 12 points of the game, with Laurynas Birutis, Brady Manek, Lonnie Walker IV, Deividas Sirvydis making layups, and Walker IV adding a three-pointer and a free throw to make it 12-0. Manek and Birutis scored after assists from Dovydas Giedraitis and Sylvain Francisco, and Alen Smailagic’s 9 consecutive points ended the first quarter, 26-8.
Ignas Brazdeikis hit a three-pointer, Edgaras Ulanovas scored from under the basket, and Smailagic made two powerful dunks to delight the Zalgiris Arena crowd, 35-11. Birutis sank free throws, Manek dunked, Mantas Juzenas and Giedraitis hit a three-pointer each, 45-13. Manek made a dunk, Juzenas, Smailagic and Giedraitis scored again, 52-21.
Sirvydis, Matt Mitchell and Francisco made three-pointers to widen the gap (61-25), Francisco fed Birutis with two assists and sank his own free throws, 67-25. Manek hit a mid-range jumper, Brazdeikis converted his free throws, Lukas Lekavicius became the last Zalgiris player to open his personal scoring account and added a pass to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Giedraitis, 76-33.
Lekavicius scored 4 points, Giedraitis made an alley-oop to Birutis, 83-33. Smailagic scored 6 more points, Juzenas and Sirvydis added three-pointers and Birutis scored his team’s 100th point, 101-46.
Smailagic scored 20 points after returning to the court after an injury. Birutis added 17 points, Manek collected 10 points.
