Zalgiris opens Betsafe-LKL season with big-margin win 5

Zalgiris Kaunas opened the 31st Betsafe-LKL season with an impressive victory. Zalgiris defeated Gargzdai 107-55 (34-16, 21-7, 25-14, 27-18) on Sunday in Klaipeda.

Keenan Evans scored first points of the season with after a drive, Dovydas Giedraitis added a mid-range shot, Edgaras Ulanovas scored 4 points, and after Evans’ pass to Kevarrius Hayes, Gargzdai opted for a timeout, 10-2. It didn’t save the hosts, as Evans and Giedraitis made a three-pointer each, and Ulanovas scored 4 more points, 20-11. Zalgiris’ second five did not slow down: Naz Mitrou-Long made 2+1, Brady Manek hit a three-pointer and Lukas Lekavicius scored 8 points, 34-16.

Arnas Butkevicius’ three-pointer and Mitrou-Long’s 4 points pushed the lead to 41-18. Laurynas Birutis and Hayes scored from under the basket and Evans made a three-pointer to make it 48-21. Hayes scored 3 more points, and Dovydas Butka closed the second period with a three-pointer at the buzzer, 55-23.

Evans and Lekavicius scored their 10th points each with an overhand shot, 59-25. Then the Manek show started, as he hit 4 three-pointers in 4 minutes, while Ulanovas added 5 points and Zalgiris led 76-29. Birutis and Butkevicius finished the third quarter, 80-37.

Danielius Lavrinovicius tabbed the first points in a Zalgiris jersey with a three-pointer from the corner, Butkevicius scored 7 points in a row, Manek hit a two-pointer and Nedas Montvila scored his first points for Zalgiris, 94-45. Butkevicius continued his run, Manek made his sixth three-pointer and Lavrinovicius scored team’s 100th point on a free throw, 100-47. Montvila attacked the basket, Manek added another long-range shot, and Lavrinovicius closed the game with free throws, 107-55.

Manek connected on 7 three-points from 9 tries, and was the best scorer with 23 points. Butkevicius added 14, Ulanovas – 13 points.