Zalgiris secures home-court advantage in a thriller 0

In the big Lithuanian derby in the final round of the regular season, James Anderson scored with 5.4 seconds to go, lifting Zalgiris Kaunas to 82-81 victory over Lietuvos Rytas on Saturday. Two teams were tied atop of the standings going into the game, meaning victory gave Zalgiris the first place and the home court advantage in the playoffs, while Rytas finishes second.

Antanas Kavaliauskas and Adas Juskevicius sparked a 0-9 run in the first quarter, and a triple from Martynas Gecevicius gave Rytas 15-21 after 10 minutes. The visitors held the margin until the midway point of the second quarter, when Paulius Jankunas strung together 6 points followed by Robertas Javtokas stringing 6 of his own for 38-31 lead.

Zalgiris held 40-34 at halftime, and after trading blows and being tied twice in the third quarter (46-46 and 51-51), a triple from Arturas Milaknis and baskets from Lukas Lekavicius and Siim-Sander Vene helped the hosts to some breathing room.

A triple from Anderson extended it to 64-55 early in the fourth quarter. Juskevicius answered with three consecutive three-pointers, but Anderson and Javtokas kept Zalgiris in front 73-66. Rytas did not go away, however, and Kavaliauskas and a triple from Mindaugas Lukauskis got the visitors within 75-74. Rytas regained the lead with baskets from Kavaliauskas and Gecevicius, before another triple from Lukauskis made it 79-81 with 72 seconds to go.

Rytas even had a possession, but did not convert. Anderson stepped to the foul line with 12.1 seconds remaining, made the first free throw, missed second, but Rytas failed to secure possession as the ball went out of bounds. The inbound pass went to Anderson who drove for a layup with 5.4 seconds to go, for what turned out to be a game-winner because Gecevicius missed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer for Rytas.

Jankunas scored 19 points to lead the winners. Anderson finished with 16, Javtokas had 12, and Milaknis netted 10 points in victory.

Kavaliauskas scored 19 for Rytas, Gecevicius shots triples 4-for-10 and scored 14 points, while Juskevicius had 13 in defeat.

In the playoff quarterfinals, Zalgiris will play Lietkabelis, while Rytas faces Siauliai.