The meeting was much better started by the Parisians – with the Kaunas team struggling a lot near the opponent’s basket, “Paris” immediately went ahead 11:3, and quickly built a double-digit lead (17:7).
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“Paris” accelerated much faster in the second quarter as well – after six consecutive points scored, the Parisians’ lead grew to a record 13 points (34:21), and by the end of the quarter, the French team was leading 45:28.
Žalgiris, who did not make a single one of 11 three-pointers in the first half, managed to get a little closer before the long break (33:45).
“Paris” maintained a double-digit lead for quite a long time even after the long break, but “Žalgiris” eventually started hitting three-pointers.
Sterling Brown scored the first one after fourteen consecutive missed attempts by the Kaunas team, and Carsen Edwards and Dustin Sleva added one each – the latter fired a precise shot with the third quarter buzzer and “Žalgiris” was only behind 61:66.
In the decisive fourth quarter, C. Edwards began to carry “Žalgiris” – the American scored 7 consecutive points, and after Nigel Williams-Goss’s two-pointer halfway through the quarter, the score was tied (75:75).
With 2 minutes left, “Žalgiris” was only one point behind (78:79) after Jonas Valančiūnas’s dunk, and with 26 seconds remaining, they had a 3-point deficit (78:81) and the ball in their hands.
Ąžuolas Tubelis scored from above with about 15 seconds left (80:81), and with no fouls from Žalgiris, the Paris players missed a shot and left a chance for “Žalgiris”.
Soon the Kaunas team received another gift from the opponents – “Paris” fouled Maodo Lo in the middle of the court, and the German scored both free throws with 5.9 seconds left, putting “Žalgiris” ahead (82:81).
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However, the Parisians, who still had time, entrusted the ball to Nadir Hifi, and the team leader broke through under the basket and scored from under the basket (83:82), leaving “Žalgiris” with only 0.5 seconds. C. Edwards did not have time to take a shot during that time.
In this match, Sabenas Lee, who was already injured earlier, and Marekas Blaževičius, who hit his head in a game situation during Wednesday’s training, could not play. “Žalgiris” head coach Tomas Masiulis also did not include Deividas Sirvydis in the twelve.
In the other semifinal of this tournament, London “Lions” defeated Wroclaw “Śląsk” 96:78.
It is with the Polish club that Žalgiris will play for third place on Friday at 19:30. The final at 22:30 will be between the London and Paris teams.
In previous friendly matches, “Žalgiris” defeated Riga “Zelti” (97:85), Utena “Juventus” (82:77), and Baku “Sabah” (112:78) teams.
Žalgiris will officially start the season next Thursday when they play Lithuanian Basketball League matches in Gargždai, and will start the EuroLeague on September 24 with an away game against Belgrade “Crvena zvezda”.
“Žalgiris”: Carsen Edwards 17 (1/5 2pt, 2/7 3pt, 9/11 FT, 5 assists), Edgaras Ulanovas 12, Jonas Valančiūnas 11 (13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 22 efficiency), Nigel Williams-Goss 10 (11 assists, 21 efficiency), Ąžuolas Tubelis 9 (9 rebounds), Maodo Lo 6, Dustin Sleva and Sterling Brown 5 each, Arnas Butkevičius 4 (7 rebounds), Marius Grigonis 2, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu 1, Dovydas Giedraitis 0.
“Paris”: Nadir Hifi 24 (8/14 2pt, 0/4 3pt, 8/9 FT, 7 assists, 27 efficiency), Tyson Etienne 12 (1/7 3pt), Daulton Hommes 7.
