Author: Raminta Kaminskaite

In the MasterCard BBL giants fight Zalgiris at home was a little better then Lietuvos rytas from Vilnius. Kaunas team won the game 85:82.

Top scorers:

Zalgiris: Tadas Klimavicius 24 (11 rebs.), Travis Watson 16 (8 rebs.), Dainius Salenga 11, Martynas Pocius 9, Mantas Kalnietis 8
Lietuvos rytas: Kenan Bajramovic 20, Steponas Babrauskas 17, Igor Milosevic 15 (8 assists.), Aron Baynes 10

The game started with the free throws of Travis Watson, but later Aron Baynes scored 4 points without the answer and Lietuvos was in front by 1 point – 3:4. After six minutes of play Tadas Klimavicius scored two pointer and Zalgiris got the 6 points advantage – 14:8. When one minute was left, Steponas Babrauskas scored a three pointer and Lietuvos rytas came closer – 19:16.  Next on two free throws added Mirza Begic, later on Kenan Bajramovic answered with two-pointer and the result was 21:19 up by Zalgiris.

The second quarter was very performing. After four minutes of play, the difference was the same – 2 points (27:25). Later on Martynas Pocius released a three pointer and for the first time in this game Rimas Kurtinaitis asked for a time out – 33:27. But it did not work, because Travis Watson increased Zalgiris lead until 8 points – 35:27. Next on Lietuvos rytas has made a run 7:0 and reduced the deficit to the minimum  - 35:34. Later on Igor Milosevic added 5 points without the answer and Lietuvos rytas  after a long break was in front again – 38:39. Until the end of this quarter the result became even – 40:40.

In the beginning of the  third quarter Dainius Salenga scored a two pointer, but later on Lietuvos rytas has made another run and after Martynas Gecevicius three pointer and Aron Baynes two pointer was in front by 6 points  - 43:49.  Nex on Tadas Klimavicius scored 5 points in a row (50:51). After four minutes of play, Baynes received the fifth foul and could not play more. In the last minutes of this quarter Marcus Brow scored a two pointer and result was 65:61 up by Zalgiris.  

The last quarter was the most interesting. Zalgiris began successfully this quarter and after Salenga and Klimavicius dunks reached double-digit advantage  - 73:63. In the middle of this quarter D.Salenga has made a spectacular  dunk and picked up all on their feet – 76:68.  The dunk contest was continued by T.Klimavicius – 78:68. But Lietuvos rytas showed their character and has made a run 9:0 and reduced the deficit to the minimum – 78:77. Later on Milosevic scored a three pointer and result was even – 80:80. Next on Kalnietis answered with the same – 83:80. When five seconds  was left the result was 83:82 up by Zalgiris. Lietuvos rytas could not make shots, Klimavicius added a two pointer and it was the end.  Zalgiris won but remains the second team after Master Card BBL Elite division regular season.