Zalgiris Kaunas easily advanced to the King Mindaugas Cup final. Tomas Masiulis’s team defeated Neptunas Klaipeda 119-81 (31-22, 25-22, 35-20, 28-17) in Siauliai.

Azuolas Tubelis scored the first points for Zalgiris, but Neptunas responded with seven points of their own, 2-7. Nigel Williams-Goss finished a fast break, Tubelis scored from under the basket and lobbed the ball for Moses Wright to dunk on a fast break, 8-7. Williams-Goss made free throws, Laurynas Birutis added 2 points, and Dustin Sleva scored 8 points in a row, 20-14. Dovydas Giedraitis hit two three-pointers from the same spot, Birutis scored, and Sylvain Francisco ended the first quarter with an accurate long-range shot, 31-22.

At the start of the second quarter, Tubelis and Wright punished their opponents with two-pointers and powerful dunks, 41-34. Francisco slipped under the basket, Edgaras Ulanovas scored free throws, and Francisco and Sleva increased the lead to double digits with three-pointers, 51-38. Sleva and Maodo Lo each made a free throw, and Ignas Brazdeikis sank a three-pointer from the corner, 56-44.

Immediately after the long break, Tubelis took center stage, driving Neptunas to despair with free throws, layups, and three-pointers, 63-47. Francisco took over, scoring 8 points in a row, 71-50. Tubelis scored again, Wright made a layup, and Sleva, Brazdeikis, and Lo each hit a three-pointer, 85-59. Sleva closed out the 35-20 quarter with 6 more points, 95-66.

Birutis scored 4 points in a row, Giedraitis assisted Sleva’s dunk, 97-66. Ulanovas hit from close range, and Deividas Sirvydis scored Zalgiris’ 100th point with a three-pointer, 102-72. Ulanovas connected on a three-pointer, Birutis added another 4 points, Tubelis scored, Giedraitis made free throws, and Sirvydis hit Zalgiris’ 18th and 19th three-pointers, 119-81.

Sleva led all the scorers with 23 points. Tubelis had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.