Fourth quarter stumble leaves Zalgiris empty in Game of the Week 36
Trey Thompkins hit 3 consecutive three-pointers as part of a 0:14 run to open the fourth quarter that broke open a tie game and propelled Real Madrid to a 59:74 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas at Zalgirio Arena in the Round 18 Game of the Week.
Los Blancos claimed their fourth straight win to improve to 13-5 and remain one victory behind defending champion CSKA Moscow for first place. Zalgiris lost its fourth in a row at home to slip to 6-12 and a share of 13th place.
Othello Hunter led the Spanish champs with 14 points, Thompkins made 4 of 6 three-pointers for 12 points and Jaycee Carroll and Gustavo Ayon scored 11 points apiece, while despite a poor shooting night, Sergio Llull delivered 8 assists.
Augusto Lima posted 13 points for Zalgiris against his former team, Paulius Jankunas posted 11 points and 7 rebounds and Lukas Lekavicius also scored 11 in defeat. The Lithuanian champs were hurt by their 17 turnovers.
Zalgiris opened up with Robertas Javtokas at center and the veteran made an early impact with half his team’s points and a pair of fouls drawn in the first few minutes to tie the score at 6:6. The Madrid guards took control as Llull recorded his fourth assist and Luka Doncic buried his second triple to make it 8:12 midway through the quarter. Lima’s three-point play tied the game at 15:15 and baskets by Ayon and Lima ended the first quarter at 17:17.
Lekavicius carved up the Madrid defense for a layup and a 23:22 Zalgiris edge, but soon after Hunter rocked the rim with a thunderous slam as the visitors regained control. However Jankunas kept the hosts close and Leo Westermann nailed a three to put Zalgiris back ahead, 30:28. But in the final two minutes of the half, Trey Thompkins buried a triple, Doncic had a steal and assist on Hunter’s alley-oop and Dontaye Draper added a steal and score for a 0:10 run and 33:41 halftime run.
Edgaras Ulanovas scored twice to help Zalgiris halve its deficit, but Llull got on the scoreboard with his first three at the other end. However threes by Jankunas and Arturas Milaknis completed the comeback and put the Lithuanian champs ahead 49:48. Antanas Kavaliauskas’s slam tied the score at 53:53 through three quarters.
Thompkins hit 3 threes to start the fourth quarter as Madrid regained control. Hunter dunked and Carrol buried another three to cap a 0:14 run that all but decided the game. Renaldas Seibutis free throws ended a four-minute Zalgiris drought, but the hosts were unable to make a big run to close the gap and Madrid held on for the road win.
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