The Betsafe-LKL Finals series started with a two-overtime game at Zalgirio Arena. Zalgiris Kaunas lost to Vilnius Rytas 89-97 (15-19, 17-22, 23-18, 21-15, 9-9, 7-15) and is trailing 0-1 in the best-of-5 series. The second game will be played in Vilnius on Saturday, and the series will return to Kaunas on Tuesday, 17 June.
Ignas Brazdeikis scored the first points for Zalgiris in the finals, Bryant Dunston had 4 points, Sylvain Francisco added 3 points, 9-9. After the opponents pulled ahead (9-16), Laurynas Birutis scored 6 points in a row, 15-19.
Francisco scored 4 points and assisted Edgaras Ulanovas at the beginning of the second quarter, 21-24. Francisco soon connected on two three-pointers (27-30), but had to sit on the bench for a second personal foul. Alen Smailagic made a three-pointer and Francisco, who returned to the court, converted free throws, 32-41.
Dunston started the third period powerfully, but Vilnius team pulled ahead again, 35-50. Isaiah Wong scored 4 points from mid-range, while the energy level was boosted by Birutis’ offensive rebound and Brazdeikis’ dunk, 44-56. Brazdeikis sank free throws, but Wong’s and Birutis’ free throws missed the mark. Finally, Wong hit a three-pointer and Ulanovas stole the ball to finish the quarter, 52-58.
Brazdeikis collected 5 points in a row (57-64), Wong scored after offensive rebound and Francisco reduced the deficit to 2 points, 63-65. Brazdeikis made two three-pointers to cut the gap to 1 point (66-67, 69-70), and Francisco did the same with a free throw, 70-71. After a timeout, Francisco made a three-pointer, and the last possession of Vilnius team in the fourth quarter was stopped, 73-73.
Wong scored the first points in the overtime, the opponents responded with three points, Brazdeikis got Zalgiris in front again, and Dunston added a free throw, 78-76. Francisco broke through under the basket and Brazdeikis scored from mid-range, 82-79. However, Ignas Sargiunas made a tough three-pointer for the opponents, and the teams had to go to another overtime, 82-82.
For most of the second overtime, Zalgiris collected points only from the free-throw line. Wong scored 1 and Francisco added 6 points, but the visitors won the game 89-97.
Francisco was the leading scorer with 31 points. Brazdeikis added 21 points, as Wong scored 12.
