Zalgiris Kaunas finished the 2012-2013 season 0

Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia) dispatched Zalgiris (Lithuania) at home, 84-62, in Game 4 of their VTB United League Playoffs semifinal series to advance to the finals, where the club will play either Khimki or CSKA. Krasnodar took the lead in the first half, and delivered the fatal blow in the third quarter by outscoring Zalgiris 30-19.

Intro
Every game in this series has been unique. Zalgiris dominated the first encounter, Lokomotiv-Kuban rolled in Game 2, while the third contest was exciting, hard-fought and tense. By Game 4, the somewhat fatigued opponents got off to a slow start. Half-court sets on offense prevailed, with both teams generally successful on the defensive end. Lokomotiv was slightly better in the first quarter, and held a 15-11 lead after 10 minutes.

Krasnodar put together a 9-2 run to start the second period. Richard Hendrix led the burst, exhibiting sticky defense and sharp offense. Zalgiris, who continued to deal with a limited bench, appeared on the verge of getting blown out already in the first half, but managed to stay in the game. The Lithuanians halted Lokomotiv’s momentum midway through the quarter and took control to close the half. The home team’s lead had melted to just five points when the teams headed to the locker room – 32-27 in favor of the Red and Green.

The third quarter began much like the second. Loko’s 8-3 run returned the double-digit lead. This time Zalgiris couldn’t find an answer. Simas Jasaitis kept the visitors on the back foot by dropping three 3-pointers early in the period to push the advantage to 15 points. Evgeny Pashutin’s team began to feel more and more comfortable with its growing lead in this vital close-out contest.

Turning Point
Up by 16 points to start the fourth quarter, Krasnodar had little trouble rolling to victory. Zalgiris couldn’t cut the deficit to single digits and Lokomotiv had this game sewed up well before the final buzzer.

Lokomotiv lost Game 1 by 27 points, but managed to reinvent itself and win three straight to eliminate Zalgiris. Krasnodar now advances to its first-ever VTB United League Playoffs finals, playing excellent basketball at just the right time of the season.

Star of the Game
Simas Jasaitis. He played against Zalgiris back in the 2000s while a member of Kaunas’s most heated rival, Lietuvos Rytas. Simas’s four 3-pointers in the third quarter helped Loko create a decisive advantage – the Vilnius native must have taken pleasure in sending his biggest rivals home early.

Stat of the Game
30-19. Lokomotiv-Kuban solidified its lead by outscoring Zalgiris, 30-19, in the third quarter.

Top Performers
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Mantas Kalnietis – 18 points, 10 assists, four rebounds, three steals; Derrick Brown – 17 points, five assists, four rebounds; Simas Jasaitis – 15 points, four rebounds; Richard Hendrix – 11 points, eight rebounds; Nick Calathes – eight points, eight assists, five rebounds.

Zalgiris: Donald McGrath – 10 points, three assists; Mario Delas – 10 points, three rebounds; Ksistof Lavrinovic – 10 points, six rebounds.