Zalgiris scores 100 and defeats Utena by 38 points 3

Zalgiris Kaunas (16/2) defeated Uniclub Casino – Juventus Utena (11/6) by 101-63 (22-14, 34-12, 17-26, 28-11) in the Betsafe-LKL Championship at Zalgirio Arena.

The hosts started the game better, taking a 7-0 lead after Edmond Sumner’s points with a foul. Juventus did not let the Zalgiris run any further and reduced the deficit (9-5), but Edgaras Ulanovas scored to make it 11-5. The teams exchanged successful attacks (15-10), and Kaunas’ advantage jumped to 8 points after Brady Manek’s three-pointer, 22-14.

In the second quarter, Zalgiris pushed the pace and had a double-digit lead after Brady Manek’s three-pointe, 25-14. Zalgiris didn’t slow down and after another successful episode by Kevarrius Hayes the teams were already 17 points apart, 31-14. The home team continued to have fun and Dovydas Giedraitis increased the difference to 24 points, 38-14. Andrea Trinchieri’s team went into the break with a more than confident lead, 56-26.

Juventus didn’t look so desperate in the third quarter, although they struggled to close the gap, 65-38. Arnas Butkevicius quelled the visitors’ attempts to get closer and Zalgiris kept control, 70-41. Utena had their best quarter compared to the previous two, but before the fourth quarter, Kaunas led 73-52.

The last quarter was a formality. Brady Manek’s three-pointers finally broke the visitors and Zalgiris moved towards victory. Lukas Lekavicius hit several shots and Arnas Butkevicius scored the team’s 100th point with a three-pointer.

Danielius Lavrinovicius, Manek and Butkevicius led the scorers with 14 points each. Lekavicius (12 points), Sumner (11) and Laurynas Birutis (10) were also in double-digits.