By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After tipping off the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with three road wins, Zalgiris Kaunas went up to 4-0 with the 89-73 victory versus Anadolu Efes Thursday at the Zalgirio Arena.
Nigel Hayes poured a team-high 17 points, including 11 in the first quarter. The former Wisconsin standout his 3/3 twos and 3/5 from three-point range in a solid Round 4 outing.
“We did a good job of not allowing Micic primarily, their main ball-handler, to drive and create,” he said on holding Vasilije Micic to seven points and three assists, “We wanted to limit his ability to get everyone involved. Everyone knows they were the better team coming into this one and the only way we have a chance is if we try to throw the first punch.”
Two more threes provided by Lukas Lekavicius bumped him up to 12 points and his side to 10/19 beyond the arc. Marius Grigonis also registered 12 points with 2/4 threes. Arturas Milaknis was 2/2 from long range and finished with 10 points. Joffrey Lauvergne added ten points and eight rebounds.
Despite limited attendance due to coronavirus restrictions, the home crowd consisting of 5,011 fans provided that extra push to Martin Schiller’s players. Zalgiris never gave up the lead extending it to double-digits in long stretches of the second half.
“I think we played much more aggressive than them,” said Lekavicius commenting on retaining the lead, “They looked a little bit tired, so we played with better energy and that was the main reason I think.”
“I must say the guys fueled energy from the fans,” mentioned undefeated EuroLeague head coach Schiller, “This is the first game with fans in such a long time. It felt amazing. The fans played a huge role as well.”
“Were there five thousand fans or more?” wondered opposing head coach Ergin Ataman, “It was exciting for us to play in such an atmosphere after seven months. But I see my colleagues talking about an unfair environment this year. I think this was also an unfair situation.”
The visitors went down to 1-3, but Bryant Dunston enjoyed a personal accolade in a losing effort. The 34-year-old center, Fordham alumnus, with two rejections tied Fran Vasquez on top of the list of players with the most blocks in modern EuroLeague history.
His team found its range in the second quarter but failed to build a trend in the second half. He scored a game-high 20 points off 8/9 twos. Krunoslav Simon put in 16 points and Rodrigue Beaubois 12 with Shane Larkin out alongside Dogus Balbay and Tolga Gecim.
“We have only one point guard and he played terrible tonight,” pointed out Ataman recapping the game, “So in this situation, it’s very difficult for us to organize our offense, to play our regular basketball. This is our side. On the other side, I saw a Zalgiris team that really played perfect. I liked many many young players, very tough, very aggressive. They played correct basketball. They fought for every ball. They are very aggressive and congratulations. I think that in the beginning of the season, Zalgiris is the best team that I saw in the first four games.”
The Lithuanian powerhouse will host Valencia next Thursday hoping to match its 2012-13 start with a 5-0 start. The Turkish side will move on to a home match opposite to LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Friday.