Zalgiris wins first game at Zalgirio Arena 15
Zalgiris Kaunas (3-0) celebrated a victory in their first game of the season at Zalgirio Arena. Zalgiris defeated Pieno zvaigzdes (0-3) from Pasvalys 78-68 (23-23, 15-22, 15-16, 25-7) on Sunday.
With Kevarrius Hayes missing the game due to bruised ribs, Danielius Lavrinovicius started in his place and scored the first 10 points for a 10-5 lead. Keenan Evans hit a three-pointer to make it 13-7, but Brandon Tabb led the visitors with 8 unanswered points, 13-15. Arnas Butkevicius scored 5 points and assisted Laurynas Birutis and Tomas Dimsa, 23-23.
Birutis and Lavrinovicius scored 4 points each (32-37), but Pasvalys’ team continued to find their way to the Zalgiris basket (32-41). After a timeout Birutis scored 4 points and Butkevicius broke through under the basket, 38-41. The visitors finished the first half in front, 38-45.
Zalgiris started the third quarter sluggishly (38-52), before Lukas Lekavicius and Edgaras Ulanovas broke the silence with their first points, 44-52. Birutis was fighting under the basket, Ulanovas made 4 free throws and Naz Mitrou-Long made a three-pointer to end the third quarter, 53-61.
The hosts started the decisive quarter with stop-it-all defense. On the other end of the court, Mitrou-Long scored 5 points and dished out assists to Lavrinovicius and Butkevicius (63-61). Dovydas Giedraitis and Rolands Smits scored their first points after assists from Butkevicius, and Ulanovas completed the 16-0 spurt for a 69-61 lead. The game was closed by 4 points from Smist, a three-pointer from Mitrou-Long and a a drive from Evans, 78-68.
Lavrinovicius had his best game in Zalgiris jersey with 16 points. Birutis finished the game with solid double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Mitrou-Long added 11 points, while Butkevicius had a statline of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
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