Zalgiris is overshadowed by Laboral Kutxa in Top 16 start 0

Zalgiris Kaunas started the Euroleague’s Top 16 stage with a 68-89 loss to Laboral Kutxa Vitoria at Zalgirio arena on Wednesday.

Olivier Hanlan paced Zalgiris with 16 points, Paulius Jankunas scored 14, Ian Vougioukas 13 and Edgaras Ulanovas 12 in defeat.

Darius Adams led five Laboral scorers in double figures with 16 points as the visitors took charge early and cruised the rest of the way. Mike James added 15 points, Fabien Causeur scored 13, Toko Shengelia 12, Ilimane Diop 10 and Adam Hanga starred on the defensive end with 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.

First quarter: Causeur leads 0-14 run that puts Laboral in charge

Diop opened the scoring with an alley-oop slam thanks to Adams’s pass. Mantas Kalnietis drove for a tough layup and then assisted on Vougioukas’s basket-plus foul to give Zalgiris the lead. Shengelia came alive with a slam and a layup to put the visitors on top. After Jankunas scored for the hosts, Adams drilled a three and Causeur converted a three-point play as Laboral went ahead 7-12. Hanga added a three-pointer and after a Zalgiris timeout and turnover, Causeur nailed a triple to make it 7-18 midway through the quarter. Shengelia’s layup capped a 0-14 run. Jankunas tried to spark the hosts with a tough three-point play, but Adams nailed another triple and after Adam Hanga’s mean rejection at one end, Shengelia drove for a layup at the other. Ioannis Bourousis came off the bench and set up Hanga for an easy score. Adams steal and layup took the lead to 19 points. Lukas Lekevicius split free throws after which Causeur’s layup made it a 20-point game. Hanlan’s three-pointer marked the first for Zalgiris. Kim Tillie completed a 14-33 first quarter for the visitors.

Second quarter: Tillie pushes Laboral lead to 27 before Zalgiris fights back

Adams nailed a triple to open the second quarter as the lead continued to grow. Edgaras Ulanovas’s bucket was cancelled out by another Adams three and a Causeur layup. Ulanovas scored again for the hosts and Hanlan added free throws to make it 20-41. Bourousis got his first points with a turn-around hook shot. Jankunas muscled his way to a layup. Killie nailed a mi-range jumper and Mike James hit one from a bit further out. Hanga rose for another big block before assisting Killie on a high-flying basket-plus-foul and a 22-49 lead. After the TV timeout, Vougioukas and Martynas Pocius scored, but Bourousis scored at the other end. Vougioukas scored again in the paint and Ulanovas’s put-back made it 30-51. James drove and finished off the glass to keep Laboral in control. Zalgiris chipped away at its deficit through Vougioukas inside and Pocius from downtown. Albert Corbacho came off the bench to bank in a shot for Laboral, but Halan’s layup and Siim-Sander Vene’s steal and layup brough the hosts within 40-55 at the break.

Third quarter: Ulanovas, Hanlan give Zalgiris hope

An Ulanovas layup gave Zalgiris hope. A jumper by Adams and fast break three-point play by Causeur kept Laboral in charge. Ulanovas remained Zalgiris top weapon with another score inside. Hanga finished a fast break with an alley-oop. Ulanovas added free throws to make it 46-62 midway through the quarter. Layups by Vougioukas and Hanlan had the hosts within 12. Shengelia stole a loose ball and took it in for a slam, but Zalgiris continued to fight back. Jankunas connected from downtown and Hanlan closed the gap to 55-64 with a layup.

Fourth quarter: After Zalgiris closes within 9, Diop helps Laboral to victory

A minute went by before James carved up the Zalgiris defense for a reverse layup. Pocius sank free throws before Diop’s tip-in established a double-digit Laboral lead. Corbacho’s three-pointer and foul combined with strong defense gave Laboral even more confidence. Diop added 4 free throws as the lead swelled to 57-76. After Pocius split free throws, James restored a seemingly insurmountable 20-point lead with an alley-oop slam with four and a half minutes to go. Diop scored again underneath as the visitors put the game away. James drove for another basket and Vougioukas scored inside. A triple by James made it 60-85 with two minutes to go to wrap up a convincing win.