Zalgiris gets by Nevezis, as key players sit out for rest 1

Zalgiris took their 26th win of their Betsafe-LKL season, despite resting a number of key players against Nevezis. The Lithuanian powerhouse took the 95-89 victory playing their home game in Garliava, and further established themselves at the top of the standings.

The green-and-whites played without a number of core players, as Ignas Brazdeikis, Arnas Butkevicius, Lukas Lekavicius and Laurynas Birutis were all rested, while we saw Tyler Cavanaugh back in warmups for the first time after his injury.

Tomas Dimsa was unstoppable at the start of the game, as he dropped 10 points in the first half of the period to give Zalgiris a 14-8 lead. Nevertheless, Nevezis didn’t let up and it was just a 3-point advantage for Zalgiris after the opening quarter.

The Kaunas side finally managed to break through after the break, as a good run from Achille Polonara helped them set a 14-point separation, 67-53. Again though, Nevezis went fighting back to cut the gap to just six.

The closing quarter did cost Zalgiris a grey hair or two, as the visitors got dangerously close in the final minutes, yet Kevarrius Hayes put the final nail with an and-one to put the game out of reach, 95-89.

Achille Polonara was the team’s leader with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, as Tomas Dimsa and Karolis Lukosiunas added another 14 each. Motiejus Krivas chipped in with 12 points and 8 rebounds, as Rolands Smits finished up with 11. Kevarrius Hayes and Dovydas Giedraitis both had 9 points to their name at the final buzzer.