By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the home loss to back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes Friday, Zalgiris rocked Pieno Zvaigzdes, 84-61, in Zalgirio Arena Sunday.
Youngster Motiejus Krivas and Laurynas Birutis shared the team-high 12 points. Both scoring in double-digits for the first time in the 2022-23 season, experienced forward Arnas Butkevicius and 22-year-old guard Dovydas Giedraitis added 11 points each. Keenan Evans paired 11 points with five assists and captain Edgaras Ulanovas had eight points and six assists. For the losing side, center Martynas Pacevicius logged a game-high 20 points by making 8/17 shots.
On the list of players dealing with an illness, Ignas Brazdeikis and Mantas Kalnietis were both scratched along with Tomas Dimsa and Karolis Lukosiunas. Also missing the Betsafe LKL Regular Season contest was injured Lukas Lekavicius (rib). Better news about Kevarrius Hayes lasting 18 minutes and recording six points plus seven rebounds, a couple of days after suffering a foot injury early on against Efes.
Further spreading playing time extended to Kajus Kublickas debuting with the senior team of Zalgiris. He registered four points, three assists, two steals, and one rebound over 23 minutes. The 18-year-old guard is a product of the youth team and also represented Lithuania in the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship.
The win upped the domestic tally to 10-1 while forcing the visitors to a fifth straight loss and down to 3-7. The closest to the team coached by Kazys Maksvytis in the standings of the Lithuania league, Rytas sits at 8-3. CBet, Uniclub Casino-Juventus, and 7bet-Lietkabelis all carry an 8-4 W-L tally.
Photo Credit: BC Zalgiris Kaunas Twitter