By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the battle of the top Betsafe LKL teams, Zalgiris defeated Rytas, 72-67, at Avia Solutions Group Arena Sunday afternoon.
Edgaras Ulanovas went for a season-high 19 points behind 7/9 field goals in 36 minutes. Lukas Lekavicius chipped in 16 more points and Tyler Cavanaugh had 15 points. Tai Webster, Paulius Jankunas, Arturas Milaknis, Janis Strelnieks, and Joffrey Lauvergne remained out.
The team coached by Jure Zdovc nearly squandered a 12-point lead with the hosts eager to complete the comeback down the stretch. Holding on generated a 17-1 record in the LKL Regular Season, while the second-placed rivals fell to 15-2.
Croatian big man Ivan Buva produced a game-high 20 points for the team based in the capital and largest city of Lithuania. Arnas Butkevicius followed with 13 points.
Back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, bottom-placed Zalgiris is scheduled to visit Panathinaikos OPAP Wednesday and AX Armani Exchange Milan Friday. Carrying an overall 3-15 W-L tally, the Kaunas club has lost all its first ten games on the road through the 2021-22 season. The Greek side ranks 17th out of the 18 teams standing at 4-15 and the Italian side sits third with a 13-6 record.
On the other hand, Rytas will welcome SIG Strasbourg Wednesday to start the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 after topping Group H of the Regular Season in front of Hereda San Pablo Burgos, Besiktas Icrypex, and EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Falco Szombathely and Lenovo Tenerife are the remaining Group L opponents.
Photo Credit: BC Zalgiris Kaunas Twitter