Zalgiris hands first blow to Lietkabelis 43
Defending champions Zalgiris inflicted the first defeat of the new Betsafe LKL season to last season’s runners-up Lietkabelis in spite of nearly wasting a massive lead in the fourth quarter on Sunday in Kaunas.
The Kaunas club hung on to take a 92-90 victory after holding just barely holding off a ferocious fightback by their previously undefeated guests, having entered the final frame with a 19-point advantage.
Zalgiris dominated the game throughout the first three quarters and had an 80-61 edge before Lietkabelis mounted a fourth-quarter comeback that brought them within a couple of points in the final minute of the game.
Vasilije Micic and Antanas Kavaliauskas shared a team-high of 19 points for the victors, while Kevin Pangos added 17 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.
For Lietkabelis, who were without Ksistof Lavrinovic and Lorenzo Williams, Gary Talton stepped up in a big way with 20 points and 9 assists, with Zygimantas Skucas collecting 13 points.
Both teams are now level in the standings with a 8-1 record.
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