Rodriguez shoots down Zalgiris in Madrid 0

LithuaniaBasketball.com

Zalgiris received its second blow in the Top 16 stage after Sergio Rodriguez nailed a clutch corner three-pointer to give Real Madrid a 75-74 (18-23, 22-17, 14-12, 21-22) victory at home. The Lithuanian team dropped to the fifth place in Group E after slumping down to a 1-2 record, while Real kept a clean record at 3-0.

With just over three seconds left on the clock, Marko Popovic had a chance to give the visitors from Kaunas the win, but the shot clanked off the rim.

Previously, Ksystof Lavrinovic was fouled by Rudy Fernandez and referees deemed it an unsportsmanlike foul, as the Spaniard was trying to stop the fast break by the visitors.

Lavrinovic nailed both free-throws to make it 72-72, but Rimantas Kaukenas could not inbound the ball in five seconds and Zalgiris could not take the lead.

However, having got a defensive stop on the other end, the Greens ended up at the stripe once again with eight seconds remaining, as Sergio Rodriguez decided to foul Oliver Lafayette intentionally.

Although the guard made both free-throw attempts, it was Rodriguez who had the last say in the game, as he hit the game-winning three-pointer in the following possession.

Nikola Mirotic led the winners in scoring with 17 points, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull chipped in with 10 each, while Rodriguez finished the game with eight points.

Despite the missed opportunity to win it for Zalgiris, Marko Popovic went 5-of-9 from downtown to finish with a game-high 21 points, Oliver Lafayette scored 13, as Rimantas Kaukenas chipped in with 11 points.