By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It wasn’t spectacular and it didn’t matter.
Zalgiris Kaunas needed the home win and got it over ALBA Berlin. As the final score (73-53) indicates, the game wasn’t even competitive.
Ignas Brazdeikis, with 21 points, was the top scorer of the night, and Edgaras Ulanovas had 10 for Zalgiris.
“It was a must-win game for us, we came out aggressive and we were focusing all week on defense and we showed it tonight”, said Brazdeikis after the final buzzer.
Coach Andrea Trinchieri added: “We controlled the game through our defense, we were better in rebounding in the second half and that’s why we won easily in the second half”.
ALBA finished the night with 2/24 threes as Matt Thomas, Matteo Spagnolo, and Yanni Wetzell scored 10 points each.
Thanks to this result Zalgiris with a 12-13 is still fighting for a spot in the postseason while ALBA at 4-21 remains last in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
Zalgiris in total control
Zalgiris closed the first period leading 25-12 with Ignas Brazdeikis scoring 10 early points, they even pushed their advantage to 15 points (27-12).
At halftime, the score was 37-22 for the hosts, who got an 18-point lead, with Edgaras Ulanovas starting the third period with a three (40-22).
There was no coming back after that, with Zalgiris closing the quarter with the same point difference (55-37) with ALBA shooting just 2/21 threes.
With a three by Edgaras Ulanovas Zalgiris pushed the lead to 21 points (62-43) and nothing changed until the end.
Photo credit: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague