Zalgiris Kaunas never trailed, and started the quarter-final series of the Citadele King Mindaugas Cup with a win. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated Siauliai - Casino Admiral 107-88 (34-19, 23-26, 21-22, 29-21) on the road, and will have a 19-point advantage before the return match on 20 January at Zalgirio Arena.
Arnas Butkevicius and Brady Manek opened the game with three-pointers, while Dovydas Giedraitis made a layup and assisted 5 points by Laurynas Birutis, 13-7. Then Lonnie Walker IV scored 10 points and assisted the shots of Birutis and Giedraitis, while Edgaras Ulanovas added 3 free throws, 31-14. At the end of the first quarter, Ignas Brazdeikis hit the sixth three-pointer of Zalgiris, 34-19.
Butkevicius and Deividas Sirvydis made a three-pointer each, but the hosts reduced the deficit to 40-30. Then Ulanovas broke through the defense of his opponent, and Sylvain Francisco’s 6 points sandwiched between two three-pointers by Walker IV, 54-35. Ulanovas hit 1 free throw and made an assist in a fast break to Walker IV, 57-45.
The hosts started the third period with an 8-1 run, before Butkevičius and Francisco revived Zalgiris offense with three-pointers, 64-55. Francisco found Matt Mitchell and Birutis, and hit a long-range shot himself, 72-59. Francisco and Alen Smailagic connected on 1 free throw each, Ulanovas hit both, and Sirvydis finished the quarter with a layup, 78-67.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Smailagic and Sirvydis scored 2 points each, while Mitchell and Brazdeikis added three-pointers, 88-73. Mitchell assisted Birutis and Giedraitis, while Zalgiris’ 19th three-pointer was made by Manek, 96-80. Then Brazdeikis scored 7 points in a row, including the team’s 100th point, and Lukas Lekavicius finished the game with 4 points, 107-88.
Walker IV scored 18 points, Brazdeikis and Francisco added 13 in the win.