Zalgiris Kaunas (14-2) recorded another victory in the Betsafe-LKL Championship. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated M Basket-Delamode Mazeikiai (3-13) by 88-82 (19-17, 15-24, 33-21, 21-20) on the road.
In the first 5 minutes, only Laurynas Birutis and Deividas Sirvydis scored for Zalgiris, 5-6. Then Ignas Brazdeikis scored 4 points and Brady Manek made two three-pointers, 15-13. Arnas Butkevicius and Lonnie Walker IV closed the first quarter with layups, 19-17.
Butkevicius hit 2 free throws, Walker IV and Lukas Lekavicius scored a three-pointer each (27-19), but the hosts tied the score soon after, 27-27. Sylvain Francisco and Matt Mitchell took advantage of Birutis’ screens and successfully drove to the basket, 31-27. Edgaras Ulanovas and Walker IV made no mistakes from the free-throw line, but Mazeikiai players were shooting well from long range, and after 20 minutes of play Zalgiris was trailing 34-41.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Mitchell and Birutis scored 4 points each, while Walker IV made 3 free throws, 45-46. Walker IV made a difficult shot, Mitchell connected on a three-pointer from the corner, but the hosts answered with a series of long-range shots, 50-59. Walker IV assisted Manek’s long range shot and broke under the basket himself, 55-59. Francisco scored from long range and assisted Sirvydis’ and Brazdeikis’ long-range shots, and added another three-pointer to close the third quarter, 67-62.
Brazdeikis and Manek scored from under the basket, but Mazeikiai briefly pulled ahead again, 71-72. Francisco was on target from long range, Birutis scored from under the basket and Walker IV added 5 points in a row, 81-72. Francisco hit 4 free throws, Walker IV drove to the basket and Brazdeikis scored the last point of the game, 88-82.
Walker IV led the scorers with 21 points and also added 3 blocks. Francisco scored 15 points in the victory.
