Zalgiris Kaunas has levelled the Betsafe-LKL best-of-five final series score at 1-1. Kaunas team defeated Rytas Vilnius 83-79 (15-20, 21-13, 21-22, 26-24) on the road.
The hosts started the game with 7 consecutive points before the silence was finally broken by a mid-range shot by Ignas Brazdeikis and a two-handed dunk by Bryant Dunston, 4-7. Then Vilnius team pulled away by 10 points (4-14), but Dunston dunked again, followed by a three-pointer by Deividas Sirvydis, 9-14. Edgaras Ulanovas broke through the defense, Dovydas Giedraitis finished the first quarter with 4 points, 15-20.
Brazdeikis and Alen Smailagic scored after offensive rebounds, 19-22. Arnas Butkevicius scored after a steal by Ulanovas, who added a free throw, and Sirvydis and Sylvain Francisco put Zalgiris ahead 26-24. Sirvydis scored 5 points and Laurynas Birutis added a free throw, 32-27. Dunston and Giedraitis finished the second period with free throws, 36-33.
At the beginning of the third period, Brazdeikis, Francisco and Dunston got on the scoreboard again, 42-41. Francisco tallied 5 points in a row and assisted Birutis, 49-45. Giedraitis and Ulanovas connected from mid-range, Sirvydis was accurate from a three-point land and Francisco hit a free throw, 57-55.
Brazdeikis broke through under the basket, Sirvydis scored from long range (62-59), but then the Zalgiris failed to make a basket in the next three minutes, 62-69. Brazdeikis scored after an offensive rebound, Butkevicius made 3 free throws, Francisco added 4 free throws, Ulanovas made 2, and Zalgiris tied the score at 73-73. Francisco made a layup and Ulanovas converted his free throws, 77-73. Sirvydis restored the 4-point lead with a three-pointer and Smailagic did the same with free throws, 82-78.
Sirvydis had 20 points for Zalgiris. Francisco added 16 points, while Brazdeikis scored 10.
