By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Rytas mishandled a 15-point advantage, but bounced back to top Zalgiris, 97-89, in double-overtime on Thursday evening.
Making 7/9 field goals, Azuolas Tubelis registered a team-high 21 points in Zalgirio Arena. Taking over after the break, RJ Cole ended up with 19 points in Game 1. Ignas Sargiunas added 15 points with four three-pointers, including a long-range effort to tie the nail-biter late in the second overtime. Gytis Radzevicius chipped in 14 points.
Homecourt advantage in a best-of-five series switched to the defending champions of Lithuania in the opener of the Betsafe LKL Finals 2025, despite Sylvain Francisco delivering a game-high 31 points for the Kaunas outfit, including a game-tying triple late in regulation. Also, Ignas Brazdeikis matched his best scoring showing of the 2024-25 season with 21 points.
Andrea Trinchieri ‘s side never led until the first overtime and a short-lived advantage of three points. However, storming back from a 15-point deficit was not enough to protect homecourt advantage, with the Vilnius outfit regaining control in the second overtime to pick up a win.
Lukas Lekavicius (sports hernia repair surgery) and Savion Flagg (hand fracture) stayed on the injury list of their respective teams.
LKL Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of three)
Zalgiris – Neptunas 2-0 (88-75, 98-70)
Wolves Twinsbet – CBet 0-2 (102-103, 98-102)
Rytas – Siauliai-Casino Admiral 2-0 (127-81, 110-84)
7bet-Lietkabelis – Uniclub Bet-Juventus 2-0 (83-77, 93-90)
Semifinals (best of five)
Zalgiris – CBet 3-0 (73-61, 98-74, 86-78)
Rytas – 7bet-Lietkabelis 3-2 (86-82, 73-76, 87-86, 76-87, 94-70)
Third-place (best of five)
7bet-Lietkabelis – CBet 0-1 (83-90)
Finals (best of five)
Zalgiris – Rytas 0-1 (89-97)
Photo Credit: FIBA