Zalgiris edges Lietuvos Rytas, still second in BBL 0
Zalgiris managed to revenge Lietuvos Rytas for the loss in the first Baltic Basketball League (BBL) Elite division round, but still finished behind the club from Vilnius in the regular season standings as they lost the first encounter by seventeen points in Vilnius.
The hosting Kaunas’ side edged Lietuvos Rytas 85:82 (21:19, 19:21. 25:21, 20:21) seeing off a late run from the visitors.
Tadas Klimavicius had a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the game in both categories. Travis Watson’s effort of 16 points and 8 rebounds also came in handy as Dainius Salenga scored 11 and Martynas Pocius finished with 9.
Lietuvos Rytas’ Bosnian power forward Kenan Bajramovic netted 20 points to lead the visitors in scoring, Steponas Babrauskas had 17 while Igor Milosevic added 15 points and 8 assists. Aron Baynes fouled out in the third quarter, but still finished with 10 points and Martynas Gecevicius had a quiet night with 9.
After spectacular plays from Tadas Klimavicius, Mantas Kalnietis and Dainius Salenga, Zalgiris took a solid 10 point lead in the fourth quarter – 78:68.
However, Lietuvos Rytas answered with a 9:0 run of their own and Kenan Bajramovic’s dunk made it a one-point game at 78:77.
With just over a minute remaining Igor Milosevic hit a dagger three-pointer over Mario Delas to even the score at 80-all. Mantas Kalnietis answered with a corner three and Milosevic committed a charging foul and fouled out in the next possession.
Martynas Gecevicius hit both two clutch free throws to decrease the deficit to one point with four second left on the clock, but Lietuvos Rytas didn’t manage to send the hosts to the foul line during the remaining time.
Zalgiris went to the free-throw line 38 times, but made only 26 of them. Lietuvos Rytas shot 30 foul shots making 24.
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