By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris routed Pieno Zvaigzdes, 99-70, improving to 19-1 in the Betsafe LKL Regular Season Sunday.
Vilnius-born guard Karolis Lukosiunas poured a season-high 20 points powered by 6/8 three-pointers. French big man Joffrey Lauvergne added 15 points, also a personal-best over the 2021-22 season, and pulled down seven rebounds. Paulius Petrilevicius recorded a team-high 18 points for the hosts.
Lukas Lekavicius and Edgaras Ulanovas did not suit up. Janis Strelnieks (hamstring) remained sidelined for the team guided by Slovenian play-caller Jure Zdovc. However, the Lithuania champions jumped to a double-digit lead early in the first quarter and convincingly held on the rest of the way.
Up next, the pushed back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 17 home game versus AX Armani Exchange Milan Tuesday and the Round 26 fixture at AS Monaco Thursday. The team based in Kaunas carrying a 3-18 W-L tally ranks last in the standings, eight games outside the Playoffs zone of Europe’s premier club continental competition with 13 fixtures remaining on the double-legged round-robin schedule.
The Italian giant, coached by Ettore Messina holds third place thanks to a 15-7 record, including four wins in a row away from home. Milan recently defeated Zalgiris in the reverse fixture at home on January 28.
Carrying a 12-12 W-L tally, including 6-1 in its last seven outings, La Roca Team led by Sasa Obradovic sits ninth, half a game outside the seeds clinching a berth to the Playoffs at the end of the Regular Season.
Photo Credit: BC Zalgiris Kaunas Twitter