Zalgiris beats Rytas for the third time in the season 14

Zalgiris Kaunas (22-2) recorded another victory in the Betsafe-LKL Championship. Andrea Trinchieri’s team defeated Rytas Vilnius (20-5) by 92-78 (27-22, 22-19, 19-16, 24-21) at a packed Zalgirio Arena.

Laurynas Birutis scored four points, Keenan Evans and Rolands Smits hit a three-pointer each to start the game, 10-8. Edgaras Ulanovas scored after a steal, Smits overpowered his opponent, Edmond Sumner and Brady Manek were on target from long range, and the first quarter was capped off by a breakaway by Sumner and a spectacular block by Kevarrius Hayes, 27-22.

In the first minutes of the second period, the score was tied at 27-27, but soon after, free throws by Evans and Ulanovas put Zalgiris ahead again, 34-29. Birutis dunked after a pass from Sumner, Lukas Lekavicius, Sumner and Dovydas Giedraitis each hit a three-pointer, and Zalgiris went to halftime break leading 49-41.

Lekavicius hit a three-pointer in the first minute of the third period, but after 3 minutes Zalgiris’ shots missed the mark, 52-50. The silence was broken by three-pointers from Sumner and Manek (58-52), then 2 minutes later Evans did the same (61-54), and after 4 points from Lekavicius and a three-pointer from Manek, the difference went into double digits for the first time, 68-57.

Lekavicius continued to score, Giedraitis hit a three-pointer and Smits added a 2+1 to make it 78-61. Hayes’ dunk and a two-pointer, Sumner’s points and two three-pointers by Lekavicius closed the game, 92-78.

Lekavicius was the leading scorer with 22 points and 5 assists, while Manek and Sumner scored 13 each.