Zalgiris opened the Lithuanian League Finals with a dominant 107-75 home victory over Juventus, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Juventus has been the biggest surprise of this year’s Lithuanian playoffs, having eliminated Rytas and Neptunas on their way to the finals, while Zalgiris reached the championship series undefeated after dispatching Jonava and Lietkabelis.
Zalgiris approached the game with maximum focus and never allowed their opponents to threaten an upset. Led by Moses Wright and Nigel Williams-Goss, they quickly built a double-digit advantage before Dustin Sleva capped the opening quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a 27-13 lead.
Sylvain Francisco and Azuolas Tubelis took over in the second quarter, but Juventus refused to back down. A late run in the final three minutes of the half helped them cut the deficit and head into the break trailing by a respectable 45-34.
It’s NEVER too late when you have Dustin Sleva in your team. ⏰
— BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) June 7, 2026
(Presented by: Go3) pic.twitter.com/FoHijyKl2i
After a somewhat quieter second period, Zalgiris returned to their trademark rhythm in the third quarter, particularly on the offensive end. Juventus tried to keep pace and, to some extent, succeeded, but it was not enough to seriously challenge the hosts, who entered the final quarter ahead 75-60.
The Kaunas powerhouse picked up right where it left off in the fourth quarter, this time adding even more defensive intensity. Tubelis and Wright were virtually unstoppable at both ends of the floor and played key roles in securing a convincing victory for Zalgiris in Game 1 of the finals.
Tubelis led the winners with 19 points, Wright added 17, and Francisco contributed 16. For Juventus, Maxwell Lewis was the standout performer with 18 points.
Zalgiris now leads the Lithuanian League Finals 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, in Utena, where Juventus will look to respond on home court.
