By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Aiming to retain the Betsafe LKL championship, Zalgiris shook off a poor offensive showing in the first half to defeat 7bet-Lietkabelis, 88-79, in Zalgirio Arena. The Kaunas outfit completed a three-game sweep, progressing to the championship series of the Playoffs.
Falling to the floor after defending a three-point shot of Deividas Sirvydis and grabbing his right leg with 42 seconds left in the third quarter, Keenan Evans was carried to the locker room. A concerning setback considering a torn Achilles tendon forcing a premature ending to his 2022-23 campaign. Fueling a 13-0 run early in the second half and putting more separation for his side, the 27-year-old guard was leading the team coached by Andrea Trinchieri with 12 points until the early exit.
Lukas Lekavicius scored seven of his 16 points over the last ten minutes of Game 3 of the Semifinals series. The reigning league and cup champions in Lithuania wrapped up a best-of-five series, despite being held to 7/21 from beyond the arc. On the losing end, Sirvydis logged a game-high 25 points.
LKL Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
A – Zalgiris – M Basket-Delamode 2-0 (97-61, 76-58)
B – Uniclub Casino – Juventus – 7bet-Lietkabelis 1-2 (77-84, 89-88, 99-100)
C – Rytas – CBet 2-0 (110-77, 96-90)
D – Wolves Twinsbet – Neptunas 2-1 (91-84, 76-95, 91-80)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
Zalgiris – 7bet-Lietkabelis 3-0 (93-72, 90-89, 88-79)
Rytas – Wolves Twinsbet 1-1 (85-96, 113-75)
Third place (best-of-five)
7bet-Lietkabelis – Loser of Rytas vs. Wolves Twinsbet
Finals (best-of-five)
Zalgiris – Winner of Rytas vs. Wolves Twinsbet
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net