Remember that in the first meeting on Saturday, the Kaunas team defeated Riga’s “Zelli” team 97:85.
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This time, the “Žalgiris” roster already included guards Nigel Williams-Goss and Saben Lee, who missed the first games due to minor injuries. For the latter, it was the first game in the “Žalgiris” jersey.
In the Kaunas team, Ąžuolas Tubelis, Marekas Blaževičius, and Maodo Lo, who had no rest after playing for the national teams, were still absent.
As in the first meeting, Jonas Valančiūnas was the top scorer and most valuable player in the “Žalgiris” lineup.
The Utena native scored 14 points (6/12 two-pointers, 0/1 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws), grabbed 9 rebounds, drew 5 fouls, and collected 20 efficiency points in 21.5 minutes against his hometown team. While he was on the court, “Žalgiris” outscored the opponents by 24 points – clearly the best indicator on the team.
However, Jonas scored all his points in the first half of the match.
In the first game against “Zelli,” the center scored 20 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and collected 28 efficiency points, and his +/– rating was also the best on the team.
Debuting S. Lee scored 8 points (3/3 two-pointers, 0/2 three-pointers, 2/3 free throws), made 2 assists, and collected 8 efficiency points in almost 17 minutes.
The Kaunas team built their lead in the second quarter, which they won 27:10, leading 45:33 at halftime.
“Juventus” revived the intrigue after the break, even taking the lead (56:55), but Kaunas finished the third quarter strongly (64:57), and in the last quarter built a record 14-point lead (78:64).
The Utena team managed to cut the deficit only in the last minutes, finishing the game with a 9-point unanswered run.
Žalgiris will play their next friendly match on September 6 against Baku’s “Sabah” club, and on September 10-11, Kaunas will participate in a four-team tournament in London.
Žalgiris will officially start the season on September 17 with an away game against “Gargždai,” and will start the EuroLeague on September 24 in Belgrade against “Crvena zvezda.”
“Juventus” will start the LKL season on September 19 away against Panevėžys “Lietkabelis,” and will start the FIBA Champions League on October 7, hosting Malaga’s “Unicaja.”
Žalgiris: Jonas Valančiūnas 14 (6/12 two-pointers, 9 rebounds, 20 efficiency points), Dustin Sleva 10 (2/6 three-pointers), Marius Grigonis 9, Saben Lee and Deividas Sirvydis 8 each, Sterling Brown, Edgaras Ulanovas, and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu 7 each, Nigel Williams-Goss 6 (6 assists), Carsen Edwards 4, Dovydas Giedraitis 2, Arnas Butkevičius 0.
Juventus: Chase Hunter and Kenny Pohto 14 each, Tevian Jones 12, Šarūnas Beniušis 11 (5/5 two-pointers), Cameron Reynolds and Laurynas Beliauskas 10 each.
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