Zalgiris Kaunas (4-1) suffered their first defeat in the LKL championship, sponsored by Betsson. Zalgiris lost at home to Lietkabelis Panevezys (4-2) by 85-87 (14-23, 34-19, 13-25, 24-20).
Laurynas Birutis scored 4 points, Dustin Sleva made a mid-range shot to lead 6-3, but the visitors responded with 9 points in a row, 6-12. Moses Wright immediately collected 4 points after entering the court, and Ignas Brazdeikis scored from mid-range, 12-15. In the remaining 3 minutes of the first quarter, only Wright scored for the hosts, 14-23.
Despite a two-pointer by Azuolas Tubelis and a long-range shot by Brazdeikis, the difference had grown to double digits, 19-30. Then Zalgiris responded with a good run, during which Tubelis and Maodo Lo tallied 4 points each and Edgaras Ulanovas made a layup, 29-30. Lo also broke through the opponent’s defense, Sylvain Francisco once and Deividas Sirvydis twice connected from beyond-the-arc, 40-35. Francisco made a layup, Mantas Rubstavicius sank a three-pointer from the corner, and Francisco closed the second quarter with a three-pointer, 48-42.
Lietkabelis started the third quarter with 7 points in a row, until Sleva and Sirvydis finally scored for Zalgiris, 52-53. Wright dunked after an assist from Sirvydis, while Francisco and Birutis each made a free throw, 56-63. At the end of the quarter, Francisco added 5 points, 61-67.
Ulanovas scored twice from under the basket, but Lietkabelis pulled ahead again with a double-digit lead, 65-76. After Ulanovas missed his second free throw, Tubelis rebounded and scored, and then in a few seconds Sirvydis hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 71-76. Sirvydis turned two defensive rebounds into two fastbreaks, 75-78. Francisco made a two-pointer with a foul (78-80), but then Zalgiris missed five three-pointers in a row, until finally, with 10 seconds left, Francisco scored from long range, 81-84. Sirvydis also made a three-pointer (84-85), Francisco deliberately missed the second free throw, but after rebounding the ball, Sirvydis’ three-pointer missed the target, 85-87.
Francisco led Zalgiris with 21 points. Sirvydis had a boxscore of 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
