By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
After a dramatic overtime game in Athens, Zalgiris Kaunas defeated Panathinaikos OPAP, 83-87. It was the first time ever that Zalgiris left OAKA with a win and got revenge for last season’s overtime loss.
The Lithuanian team went up by six points (80-86) in the extra time thanks to Brandon Davies’ big plays. Panathinaikos could not respond and Zalgiris won a contest decided on details. Davies finished with 18 points and four rebounds, while Nate Wolters flirted with a double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds.
“I’m very lucky to have the players that I have. Whatever they lack in talent or if you compare with other teams, their work ethic is incredible. They work their butts off, and I believe in them because of their commitment,” said Zalgiris head coach, Saras Jasikevicius after the overtime thrilling win.
Zalgiris was up by seven points to start the fourth quarter, but ‘Pana’ cut that seven-point (51-58) deficit to just one point (61-62), with Nick Calathes turning on the jets. Eventually, the hosts went up ahead (64-62) with four minutes on the clock.
In the final two minutes of regulation, the Greek star took over with lay-ups and a crucial three-pointer that put Panathinaikos up by four points (74-70).
Zalgiris however responded and with six seconds left, the game was tied at 76. Calathes missed the chance to win it for Panathinaikos with a three-pointer at the buzzer. Thus, for the second straight season, the two teams played an overtime in Athens. Calathes night’s ended with 22 points and five assists.
However, the ‘Greens’ shot 9/29 from beyond the arc and Matt Lojeski’s absence (out with injury) had a negative effect on the team. Xavi Pascual explained what he means to this team this season: “If you watched our first games with Lojeski, our picture was entirely different. He is a player that can play two positions and he can shoot, create and makes good decisions. He is a very important player for us this year, but we can’t complain. We have 30 games for this season, and all the teams will have some problems with injuries”.
During the first half, the visitors started the game off the right way with Brandon Davies leading the way (10-20). With Aaron White’s emphatic poster dunk and Derrick Walton JR’s first EuroLeague bucket, Zalgiris were making a statement, as they went up by 17 points (20-37).
At halftime, Kaunas’ team was up by 11 (33-44). The hosts rallied back in the third quarter as Keith Langford was creating for himself and cut the lead to just four points (49-53). He finished the game with 13 points.
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