By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris Kaunas resisted feisty LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on the road and with a 79-74 win in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 22 they march on with a two-game streak.
Lukas Lekavicius stepped up with a 21-point performance to lead Zalgiris‘ offensive efforts and he also made the most crucial shot of the game in the closing seconds.
The duo of Arturas Milaknis and Jock Landale contributing 12 points to the winning squad.
ASVEL’s Jordan Taylor led the team with 15 points, while he tried to save the day in the fourth period, though his effort fell short in Lekavicius’ big night.
Nerve-wracking finale
Zalgiris managed to stay ahead after a rather tight contest in the first half with a narrow 30-27 lead. Lekavicius helped his team get ahead 55-50 after 30 minutes of action, though Taylor evened the score at 61 points with six minutes to go. David Lighty put the hosts in charge again, but not for long as Thomas Walkup (11 points) forced the game to another tie.
With the game hanging on a thread, Taylor gave the hosts a breather and placed them ahead 74-73, though Lekavicius stepped up with a three-pointer with 30 seconds to go to give Zalgiris the advantage again. “For sure, it was one of the biggest shots in my short career,” Lekavicius said. “I am so happy that I helped the team win this game. We knew [it was going to be physical] before the game. Coach prepared us well and here, in this gym, it is very difficult to play. I think we responded very well to their physicality.”
Walkup hit a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining, helping the team seal the final result.
“I think it was really one of the most physical games that I have been a part of,” sais Zalgiris coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. “We took the lead and then again, as typical for a young team, we started feeling too good about ourselves. They immediately came back and almost took control of the game, but this is big-time stuff, that we were able again to change the complexion of the game. Our target is the next game. What else can be a target for Zalgiris?”
Zalgiris now moves to an 8-14 record, a tie with ASVEL after this round.
Photo: EuroLeague