Barcelona defeated Zalgiris on the road by 85:80, returning to the winning streak after two consecutive losses in the EuroLeague.
For the home team, Arnas Butkevicius was unavailable, while Alex Abrines and Michael Caicedo did not play for the visitors.
Barcelona opened the game with a 5:0 run, but the host, thanks to excellent defense, turned the tide after Keenan Evans‘ three-pointer. Zalgiris had an impressive 11:0 run, prompting Roger Grimau to call a timeout. Nikola Kalinic played exceptionally well and, with his ninth point, restored the guests’ lead. Nicolas Laprovittola and Tomas Satoransky were accurate from beyond the arc, allowing Barcelona to finish the first quarter with a plus-six lead.
Laurynas Birutis and Evans went on a scoring spree, bringing Zalgiris level. Birutis continued his excellent performance, joined by Austin Hollins with a three-pointer, giving the Lithuanian team a 37:30 lead. Barcelona swiftly responded. Kalinic hit another three, distributed several assists, and in no time, it was 42:40 for the Catalans. The host faced an issue as Evans received his third personal foul. Laprovittola, with some tough shots, extended Barcelona’s lead to five points at halftime.
Barcelona secures win after a thrilling encounter
Zalgiris didn’t necessarily raise their level in the third quarter as much as Barcelona struggled to score at the same percentages as in the first half. Dovydas Giedraitis was in excellent form for the home team, hitting two consecutive three-pointers, and with the consistent performance of Birutis, he allowed Kazys Maksvytis‘ team to enter the last 10 minutes with a plus-three lead, conceding only 14 points in the third quarter.
The beginning of the fourth quarter was marked by numerous misses. As the game approached its conclusion, both teams became more nervous, resulting in a closely contested back-and-forth. Kalinić did not have a stellar second half after a brilliant first 20 minutes. He missed shots from all positions, reflecting the team’s struggles in the final stretch. Jan Vesely significantly aided the visitors, securing many second-chance opportunities through offensive rebounds. With a slim 81:80 lead, Barcelona entered the last minute and a half. Laprovittola then made two free throws, while Evans failed to score on the other end, ending all hopes for Zalgiris.
The top scorers for the winners were Laprovittola with 18 points and Vesely with 15. Birutis led the home team with 18 points.
In the next round, Zalgiris will host Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Barcelona will visit Monaco.
ZALGIRIS – BARCELONA 80:85 (22:28, 29:28, 22:14, 7:15)
Arena: Zalgirio arena, Kaunas; Referees: Paternico, Petek, Thepenier.
Zalgiris: Evans 13, Lekavicius, Hayes, Giedraitis 6, Smits 11, Birutis 18, Hollins 3, Sumner 7, Dimsa 5, Lavrinovicius 2, Manek, Ulanovas 15.
Barcelona: Da Silva, Pauli, Vesely 15, Brizuela 8, Kalinic 12, Satoransky 10, Hernangomez 6, Laprovittola 18, Parker 8, Nnaji 2, Jokubaitis 6, Parra.