Zalgiris achieves dramatic victory over Crvena Zvezda in Cyprus 18
Zalgiris Kaunas concluded the friendly tournament in Cyprus with a victory. Zalgiris squandered a 15-point lead in Nicosia, but eventually defeated Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, 85-84 (14-21, 27-16, 28-25, 16-22).
Rolands Smits found Kevarrius Hayes under the basket twice in the first minutes (4-5), but he three missed shots from long range, which was exploited by the opponents, 5-15. Hayes dunked after a pass from Dovydas Giedraitis, Arnas Butkevicius scored 5 points in a row, and Laurynas Birutis was big on the glass, 14-21.
After missing all 7 three-pointers in the first quarter, Zalgiris started the second period with threes by Brady Manek, Edgaras Ulanovas and Danielius Lavrinovicius, 23-28. Lukas Lekavicius and Keenan Evans were accurate from close range, while Ulanovas added free throws and after 4 points from Rolands Smits Zalgiris was already ahead, 36-33. The second half was ended by free throws by Evans and a three-pointer by Ulanovas, 41-37.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Butkevicius hit a three-pointer and Birutis scored 5 points in a row, 49-41. Manek and Birutis made 1 free throw each, Naz Mitrou-Long broke through under the basket, and a three-pointer by Manek and a steal by Butkevicius increased the margin to double digits, 58-48. Mitrou-Long scored 5 points in a row, Smits converted his free throws, Ulanovas added 4 points and Zalgiris took the lead, 69-54. However, the opponents ended the period with 8 unanswered points, 69-62.
Smits opened the fourth quarter, but in the next 5 minutes only Ulanovas scored for Kaunas from the free-throw line and Crvena Zvezda took the lead, 73-75. A 2+1 by Birutis put Zalgiris ahead (76-75), but the opponents found their answers, 78-82. Then Lekavicius took the initiative, hitting a three-pointer and then breaking through with a foul after a free throw by Ulanovas. Zalgiris defended against the last Serbian possession and celebrated the victory, 85-84.
Ulanovas was the leading scorer for Zalgiris with 16 points. Butkevicius added 12, while Birutis finished with double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
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