In the 25th round of the Lithuanian Basketball League, Zalgiris lost to Neptunas away after a fierce battle and two overtimes by 114:112.
The home team produced a big surprise. After the first half, the guests held a two-point lead. Then, the home team played superbly in the third quarter, leading 61:51 against the EuroLeague team. The home team maintained the lead until three minutes before the end when Zalgiris managed to tie the game and then take the lead 85:81. Neptunas didn’t give up. They made a three-pointer to make it 85:84, and then, with a three-pointer from Mindaugas Girdziunas, they tied the game again for overtime at 87:87.
In the additional five minutes, the situation remained the same. There was no winner, and the game went into a second overtime, secured by Edgaras Ulanovas of Zalgiris, who made two free throws for 101:101. In the second overtime, Zalgiris took the lead 107-104. Then, a series of points from the home team put them ahead 112:109. Zalgiris didn’t give up, and with a three-pointer from Lukas Lekavicius, they tied the game again at 112:112. Then, Zygimantas Janavicius emerged as the hero of the game, hitting the shot for Neptunas’ win.
Mindaugas Girdziunas led the winners with 28 points, Zygimantas Janavicius scored 22, and Thomas Rutherford contributed 17. On the other side, Keenan Evans was the top scorer with 26 points, while Edmond Sumner added 21 points.