Zalgiris Kaunas opened the EuroLeague season with a victory. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated FC Barcelona 74-67 (21-14, 22-17, 7-17, 24-19) in a packed Zalgirio Arena.
Tyrone Wallace scored Zalgiris’ first points of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season. Ignas Brazdeikis followed with three drives to the basket and Dovydas Giedraitis scored to give Zalgiris a 10-7 lead. Deividas Sirvydis made his first three-pointer of the season and added two free throws on the next possession to make it 15-12. Giedraitis also made a long shot, followed by Sylvain Francisco, 21-14.
Wallace and Brazdeikis increased the difference to double digits (25-14), but the opponents also answered with 4 points, 25-18. Matt Mitchell and Wallace connected from mid-range, and Arnas Butkevicius hit a three-pointer to make it 32-23. Laurynas Birutis scored from under the basket, assisted on Arnas Butkevicius’ long-range shot and then sank a free throw, 38-27. Francisco’s free throw, Mitchell’s mid-range shot and Brazdeikis’ buzzer-beater closed the second period, 43-31.
After the break, FC Barcelona stepped up their defense and in the first 5 minutes of the third period, only Giedraitis scored for the hosts after a steal (45-37), while the opponents were closing in on the lead 45-42. Sirvydis hit a three-pointer (48-42), but the Catalans tied the score at 48-48. Only Edgaras Ulanovas scored in the last 2 minutes of the quarter, 50-48.
In the fourth quarter, after a layup by Mitchell and a 5 points by Brazdeikis, the difference grew again, 57-48. The visitors got closer to 57-54 before Francisco put on a show and scored 10 points in a row, 67-60. Brazdeikis broke through under the basket (69-62), and with 19 seconds to play Francisco hit the decisive three-pointer and free throws to seal the 74-67 win.
Francisco scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Brazdeikis finished the game with 17 points.
