LKL: Zalgiris beats Dzukija at home for 14th win 0

Zalgiris Kaunas won fourteenth time in Lithuanian Basketball League. The greens defeated Dzukija Alytus in Zalgiris arena 74-67 on Friday.

In the beginning of the match Dzukija caught unprepared Zalgiris’ players and after two successful attacks they were in front 4-0. First points of the greens were scored by Arturas Milaknis, who made a long-range shot. Captain Paulius Jankunas added a two-pointer. However, Giedrius Staniulis scored five points and helped Alytus team to sustain the lead 11-5. Robertas Javtokas and Jankunas tried to improve the situation, but Eigirdas Zukauskas made two three-pointers and visitors had a double-digit advantage (21-11). The youngster Lukas Lekavicius scored his first points for Zalgiris first team by making both free throws, Javtokas added 4 points, Tomas Dimsa performed an effective dunk and after the first quarter the result was 19-24.

In the second period the greens were more concentrated. Milaknis and Dimsa made two long-range shots and the visitors only had a one point advantage (28-29). Zalgiris used their power under the basket and collected points from the free throw line. Arturas Gudaitis and Javtokas attacked without the mistakes and after Dentmon’s two points with a foul Kaunas’ team took a lead (38-37). Although after assist of Milaknis Javtokas rocked the rim with a powerful dunk, twenty first point of Dambrauskas helped Alytus team to be in front after the first half 40-43 .

In the third quarter Zalgiris failed to score for almost four minutes and Dzukija took a seven-point lead (40-47). Dentmon made a three-pointer, Dimsa added a mid-range jumper, but it was not enough for the greens to cut the difference (45-52). Then the four points were scored by Martynas Paliukenas and Alytus gained the record lead (45-56). Vytenis Lipkevicius and Lekavicius made three-pointers, but after the third period Zalgiris still had seven-point deficit 51-58.

Dentmon and Jankunas started to correct the situation. The American hit from distance, made both free throws, while the team’s captain twice scored points from the paint 59-60. Two-pointers of these players helped Zalgiris to take the lead 66-65. During the rest of the time the greens played well on defense and beautiful dunk of Dimsa finished the game 74-67 .

Top scorers:

Zalgiris: J.Dentmon 16+6reb+6ast+3stl, R.Javtokas 15+7reb+4ast+3blk, A.Milaknis 13, P.Jankunas 12, T.Dimsa 6+2stl, V.Lipkevicius 5+8reb, L.Lekavicius 5, A.Gudaitis 2, T.Klimavicius 0, M.Kupsas 0.

Dzukija: P.Dambrauskas 27+4ast, M.Paliukenas 11+6ast+3stl, G.Staniulis 9+5reb.