Zalgiris Kaunas erased a double-digit deficit, but eventually lost the third game of the Betsafe-LKL Finals series. The Kaunas team lost to Vilnius Rytas 80-86 (15-21, 16-28, 33-18, 16-19) at Zalgirio Arena and are now 1-2 in the best-of-5 series.

Bryant Dunston started the game with a dunk, Alen Smailagic corrected his own shot (4-2), Dunston got under the basket again, but it was mostly free throws that put the opponents ahead 6-12. Within a few minutes, Ignas Brazdeikis, Laurynas Birutis, Dovydas Giedraitis and Deividas Sirvydis tied the score at 14-14. The guests pulled away again in the end of the first quarter, 15-21.

Two missed rebounds and three more turnovers allowed the visitors to pull further away, 15-31. Sylvain Francisco scored 1 free throw, but the opponents increased their lead, 16-35. More than halfway through the second half, Edgaras Ulanovas hit a three-pointer and on the next possession made a put-back, 21-37. Giedraitis hit 1 free throw, Ulanovas hit 2, Francisco scored from under the basket, but Rytas was building a record lead, 26-49. A three-pointer by Smailagic and a tip-in by Matt Mitchell closed the second quarter, 31-49.

Francisco started the third period with 7 straight points and an assist to Ulanovas’ three-pointer, 41-53. Sirvyydis also scored from long range and Birutis duked it hard, 46-53. Francisco sank the free throws and sent the ball to Ulanovas for another long shot, 51-55. Francisco scored 4 more points, Brazdeikis intercepted the ball and dunked it home, 57-61. Smailagic scored from long range, Mitchell made free throws to reduce the difference to the minimum (62-63), Birutis scored a point, 64-67.

Brazdeikis made a free throw and Sirvydis connected on a three-pointer to restore the single-digit difference, 68-75. Francisco broke through under the basket and Smailagic made free throws, 72-77. Francisco hit 1 free throw, but the gap grew again, 73-85. Ulanovas was accurate from long range, Sirvydis scored after a steal and Giedraitis cut the gap to 5 points, 80-85. Unfortunately, Zalgiris missed last two long-range shots and didn’t get closer, 80-86.

Francisco led Zalgiris with 19 points and 6 assists. Ulanovas had 16 points, while Sirvydis and Smailagic scored 10 each.