Zalgiris Kaunas 62-73 Barça: Important win in Lithuania

Important win for Barça in Kaunas against Zalgiris with a 73-62 victory keeping them top of the Euroleague with 9 wins and just 2 defeats from 11 matches so far. Davies with 16 points and Kuric with 15 were the top scorers on an evening that saw the return of coach Sarunas Jasikevicius to his former team. 

After an emotional welcome for the Barça coach on his return to Lithuania, the first 10 minutes of the game were even in Kaunas before Barça managed to gain a slight advantage. That lead was wiped out by a seven point run from Zalgiris and the first half ended with a Smits three pointer that handed the blaugranes the lead at 17-14. 

Before half time the contribution of Kuric and then Mirotic allowed Jasikevicius' team to take a 39-33 advantage at half time. 

In the third quarter Barça's lead was 50-37 at one point but some sloppy passing and steals from Zalgiris saw the home side pull it back to 55-48. 

Nevetheless, Barça were able to rally in the final quarter with a lead that exceeded 10 points at times before closing the contest out at 73-62 for a a ninth win in 11 matches in the Euroleague. 

MATCH STATS:

Zalgiris Kaunas, 62
Barça, 73

Zalgiris Kaunas: Walkup (5), Vasturia (2), Hayes (10), Grigonis (5) y Lauvergne (10) –starting five-, Lekavicius (5), Jankunas (-), Milaknis (2), Geben (2), Rubit (6) and Jokubaitis (15). 

Barça: Calathes (6), Higgins (7), Abrines (6), Mirotic (9) y Oriola (6) –starting five-, Davies (16), Hanga (5), Smits (3), Heurtel (-), Martinez (-) and Kuric (15).