Zalgiris gives huge fight for CSKA Moscow in Kaunas 0

Zalgiris Kaunas demonstrated great fighting spirit and few times cut back from double-digit gap, but in the end lost the game to CSKA Moscow 86-88 on Thursday at Zalgiris Arena.

The Russian champs led by 9 early in the fourth quarter, but Justin Dentmon took charge and helped lead the hosts back. After Jackson split free throws with 10 seconds remaining, Zalgiris gave the ball to Dentmon, who watched the clock wind down before attacking, but Jackson was there and blocked the shot when Dentmon pulled up for what would have been a game-winning three. The result was CSKA’s 14th straight Euroleague victory over Zalgiris and lifted Coach Ettore Messina’s men to 8-1 in Group F and a step closer to the playoffs, while Zalgiris dropped to 1-8.

Milos Teodosic led the winners with 16 points, Sonny Weems added 15, Vitaly Fridzon scored 12 on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, Jackson finished with 10 and Victor Khryapa dished 8 assists.

Dentmon paced the Lithuanian champs with 28 points, Marty Pocius scored 20 and Robertas Javtokas added 14 in defeat.

First quarter: Khryapa, Teodosic give visitors narrow lead

Khryapa flipped to a wide-open Kyle Hines for the game’s first score. Dentmon got the hosts going with triples on Zalgiris’s first to possessions before passing to Pocius for another and a 9-4 lead. Teodosic answered from downtown. After Javtokas scored on the offensive glass, Nenad Krstic’s baseline jumper made it 11-10. Vytenis Lipkevicius helped Zalgiris stay in front with a tip-in and a three. Weems buried a short jumper before Teodosic stripped Dentmon and went in for a layup that tied the score at 16-16 before the TV timeout. Tadas Klimavicius shined with a block of Weems before picking up a steal that led to a Dentmon layup. CSKA went ahead on a Sasha Kaun free throw and Andrey Vorontsevich added to the cushion. Sarunas Jasikevicius played the pick-and-roll perfectly for a Mindaugas Kupsas layup. A Vytenis Cizauskas layup left Zalgiris within 22-23 through 10 minutes.

Second quarter: CSKA’s 10 unanswered points make the difference

CSKA took charge as Vorontsevich and Fridzon sandwiched threes around a Kaun score. An Aaron Jackson jumper capped a 0-10 run that gave the visitors their first double-digit lead. Javtokas attacked the rim for a slam, but Fridzon nailed another triple to make it 24-36. Klimavicius scored off an inbounds pass and Dentmon went coast to coast for a layup. After a timeout, a Javtokas spin move resulted in a basket that cut the difference to 6. Weems fed Krstic for a slam, but Klimavicius answered inside. Dentmon drew a pair of quick fouls from Teodosic and sank the resulting 2 free throws. Dentmon fed Javtokas for an easy slam to bring Zalgiris within 36-41. Klimavicius added a turn-around jumper, but Vladimir Micov scored inside and a botched Zalgiris rebound led to an easy Jackson basket. Weems buried a pull-up jumper in the closing seconds of the half to make it 38-47.

Third quarter: Pocius leads Zalgiris surge

Kaun restored a double-digit difference to open the half, however baskets by Pocius and Javtokas gave the fans what to cheer about. Weems and Pocius traded threes and the latter then drove to the basket to trim the gap to 47-52. Khryapa scored his first points with a mid-range jumper. Dentmon drew another foul from Teodosic, which resulted in a seat on the bench for the mercurial CSKA guard. A Dentmon three made it 52-54 midway through the quarter. Pocius pulled up for a three that capped a 13-2 run and Zalgiris’s first lead since the first quarter. The lead traded hands on five consecutive possessions, culminating with Krstic free throws to make it 59-60. But soon Jasikevicius pulled up for a jumper – his first points. A wild Dentmon triple and A Fridzon three from the corner left CSKA up 64-65.

Fourth quarter: Jackson goes from zero to hero for CSKA

Teodosic buried a three to quiet the crowd. Then Fridzon made another. A Tomas Dimsa triple was matched by Teodosic’s third three. Vorontsevich’s steal led to a Hines basket and a Zalgiris timeout. After a timeout, Lipkevicius drove for a reverse layup to bring the hosts within 69-76. Pocius attacked the rim, scored and drew a foul from Khryapa to make it 74-77 midway through the quarter. Dentmon went hard to the rim, but was called for an offensive foul, which was his fourth personal foul. Hines restored a 6-point CSKA cushion from the line. Javtokas and Weems traded free throws. Then Teodosic added a pair to make it 76-84 with less than three minutes to play. Dentmon drew a foul shooting a three and made 2 of the resulting 3 free throws. Javtokas made it 82-87 with 52 seconds remaining. Then Dentmon free throws brought Zalgiris within 3 with free throws with 21.5 seconds left. Zalgiris stopped Hines and Pocius made it a 1-point game with 11.6 seconds to go. Zalgiris quickly fouled Jackson, who split free throws and gave Zalgiris a chance to win it. The hosts got the ball with 7.9 seconds left, but Jackson denied Dentmon in the final second to secure a CSKA victory.