By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was not easy, but when all was over, Barcelona which had the upper hand for most of the game got the 78-72 win over Zalgiris Kaunas and has a 13-9 record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, good enough for sole possession of the 5th spot.
Thanks to a partial 11-4 score during the first six minutes of the last period, the hosts got a 71-66 lead and kept it until the end. It was a scrappy game with Barcelona having 45-38 advantage after the first half and then Zalgiris owning the third period.
The guests kept Barcelona to 15 points during the third quarter and scored 24 points. They entered the last period leading by two (62-60), however, it was obvious that coach Svetislav Pesic’s team had more quality and more options.
“I think Zalgiris played a good game, but we had more experience”, said Pesic.
To be exact five players finished the game with 10 or more points, while Zalgiris got a big game by Arturas Milaknis who had 15 points with five made threes, but not much else. The Lithuanians finished the game with eight made out of 25 threes.
“Usually the games are decided by details and Barcelona came out on top”, said Zalgiris coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. “I thought our team was great. Fighting spirit. For most of the game, the basketball level was excellent. The best we have played in a while because of the clear problems we have been having. I am very proud of my players. This is the way to continue. ”
Adam Hanga with 14 points was the best among equals for Barcelona.
Photo credit: EuroLeague