Zalgiris storms into playoff picture with win at Darussafaka 15
Zalgiris Kaunas battled its way back into the playoff picture with a 69:66 road win over Darussafaka Istanbul at Volkswagen Arena on Friday night. The Lithuanian champs improved to 8-12 and a share of 10th place, while Darussafaka fell to 10-10 and is in eighth, the final spot that leads to the playoffs.
Kevin Pangos led the winners with 14 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 90 seconds to go that helped keep Darussafaka at bay. Augusto Lima added 11 points for Zalgiris, which outrebounded Darussafaka 35:28. Zalgiris made 50% of its 16 three-point tries, but the real key to victory was its defense, which kept Darussafaka out of rhythm and saw the home side shoot at subpar numbers from all ranges (38.5% on two-pointers, 33.3% on threes and 67.9% on free throws).
Brad Wanamaker led Darussafaka with 17 points, 8 assists and 3 steals and Dairis Bertans added 13 points off the bench.
Both teams scored on their maiden possessions, but soon the offenses were slowed and the scoreboard showed 5:4 after five minutes. Leo Westermann sandwiched a pair of threes around an assist to put the visitors ahead 12:5. The hosts closed the gap through outside shots and tied it at 14:14 on a Furkan Aldemir slam. Lukas Lekavicius’s jumper left Zalgiris ahead, 16:14, after 10 minutes.
A Bertans triple to start the second half put the hosts in front and the lead changed hands on each of the next few possessions. With Antanas Kavaliauskas scoring, rebounding and even assisting in the paint, Zalgiris climbed in front 28:24 midway through the second quarter. Darussafaka twice came within 1 through three-pointers, but Zalgiris seemed to have the answers and Edgaras Ulanovas’s jumper made it 38:31 at halftime.
Three times Zalgiris led by as many as 8 points, before a run of 5 free throws drew Darussafaka within 44:47. Luke Harangody missed a three that would have given Darussafaka the lead; instead Zalgiris scored the next 6 points to regain the 8-point advantage. Wanamaker’s layup on the buzzer made it 49:55 through three quarters.
Lekavicius’s baseline drive gave Zalgiris its biggest lead, 60:51. Darussafaka continued to claw its way back and after free throws by Wanamaker, it was 64:60 with two minutes to go, but then Harangody missed 2 free throws and Pangos connected from downtown at the other end to all but seal the outcome.
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