Continuing their preparations for the upcoming season, Žalgiris Kaunas defeated the Riga Zelli team coached by Rokas Kondratavičius in their first preparation game on Saturday evening, winning 97-85.
This game, as well as the other two friendly matches at Žalgiris Arena, is being played behind closed doors, but the game was watched live by several Žalgiris Insider subscribers and Kubo members who won tickets through a contest. Become a Žalgiris Insider member here.
Tomas Masiulis played this game without Ažuolas Tubelis, Marek Blaževičius and Maodou Lo, who are representing their national teams. Nigel Williams-Goss and Saben Lee also missed the game due to minor injuries.
Riga Zelli entered the game without Tomas Talcis, Klavs Čavaras, Tomas Skuja and Isaac Johnson.
The visitors opened the game with the first points, but Žalgiris soon put together a 10-0 run, started by a two-pointer from C. Edwards, followed by points from J. Valančiūnas and A. Butkevičius with a foul, and capped by a layup from J. Valančiūnas.
Midway through the first quarter, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu also managed to shake the rims at Žalgiris Arena with his layup (12-4). In the second half of the quarter, the Latvian team’s offense recovered (8-12), but Sterling Brown also put together his own 5-point run, hitting the first three-pointer in Kaunas (17-8). The quarter ended with five made free throws by Žalgiris (24-15).
The second quarter started with a rebound by J. Valančiūnas and easy points from under the basket, followed by three long-range shots from Zelli (28-25). Soon after, K. Akobundu-Ehiogu once again soared over the arc on a fast break (30-27).
Halfway through the second quarter, Martynas Varnas took the initiative for the visitors (29-30), while another layup by K. Akobundu-Ehiogu (32-29) added to Žalgiris’ points tally. For a while, both teams scored points from the free-throw line (36-37), but Žalgiris’ scoring drought of almost four minutes was broken by a rebound basket from Marius Grigonis on the final possession of the half (38-37).
After two quarters, the most productive players for Žalgiris were the big men: J. Valančiūnas had 10 points and 6 rebounds, while K. Akobundu-Ehiogu had scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Tony Perkins had scored 8 points for Zelli.
The third quarter started at a high pace: J. Valančiūnas scored from under the basket, while C. Edwards added a long-range shot (45-50). Soon after, Dovydas Giedraitis also scored from long range (48-42), and after the made shot he intercepted the ball, allowing Žalgiris to take a double-digit lead following two points from J. Valančiūnas and D. Sleva (52-42).
Although Zelli players scored four points in a row (46-52), Žalgiris’ three-pointers continued to find the bottom of the net after halftime, keeping the double-digit lead intact (64-54). At the end of the quarter, the teams traded several made shots, and J. Valančiūnas closed the period with a three-point play (72-61).
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Edgardas Ulanovas added 4 points and Žalgiris continued to maintain their accumulated advantage (79-68). Midway through the quarter, Žalgiris went on another run and built a commanding lead after C. Edwards’ three-pointer (86-68). However, late in the game, Zelli’s players slightly reduced the deficit (80-90), but Žalgiris maintained a double-digit lead and recorded the victory (97-85).
Žalgiris: J. Valančiūnas 20 (9 rebounds), S. Brown 14 (3 rebounds, 3 assists), K. Akobundu-Ehiogu (4 rebounds), M. Grigonis and C. Edwards 13 each (3 rebounds), E. Ulanovas 9 (5 rebounds), D. Sirvydis and A. Butkevičius 5 each (6 rebounds), D. Giedraitis 3 (7 rebounds), D. Sleva 2 (7 rebounds).
Zelli: M. Varnas 17 (3 rebounds), B. Shungu (4 rebounds) and R. Šulcs 13 each, T. Wahl 12 (8 rebounds).
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