Final, 102-91
Victory for Baskonia, who has become strong in defense and rebounding in the final stretch. When it seemed that Zalgiris could impose its talent, the Vitorians have prevailed in a very even fight, recovering options to fight for play-in, 102-91
Fourth period, 28 seconds left
Brazdeikis misses tlro over Diakite. Foul by Francisco and free throws for Luwawu. He scores the two free kicks and then Brazdeikis misses the three-pointer from the corner. Baskonia has almost done it, 97-91
Fourth period, min 39
Kurucs scores after offensive rebound, Luwawu had missed the triple. Loss of Francisco to Diakite. Luwawu scores mid-range from the right, 95-91
Fourth period, min 38
Kurucs scores with a short shot against Sylvain to tie it. Zalgiris timeout. Diakite plug to Ulanovas. Foul on Diakite who almost scores. Convert the two free. Note Brazdeikis posting, 91-91
Fourth period, min 37
Two plus one from Forrest spectacularly penetrating towards the rim. He scores the extra and then Giedraitis misses the triple, 87-89
Fourth period, min 36
Foul in attack by Simmons under the rim. It is confirmed after review. Giedraitis steps in a moment of rest for Sylvain, 84-89
Fourth period, min 35
Baskonia’s backfield, overwhelmed by the pressure of Zalgiris. Foul in attack by Francisco for colliding during penetration. Luwawu-Cabarrot misses the three-point shot and Francisco breaks again from the right, 84-89
Fourth period, min 34
Two plus one from Forrest on another drive to the basket. The additional fails, however. Sleva steps. Then there is a basket from Francisco breaking the defender in penetration, 84-87
Fourth period, min 33
Tubelis scores from three, good streak now for Zalgiris in outside shooting. Markus Howard responds with an open shot after a bounce. Francisco responds with another three-pointer, 82-85
Fourth period, min 32
Foul on Luwawu-Cabarrot who will go for the free kick again. Write down both. Then there is a triple from Francisco, frontal. Forrest scores penetrating, 79-79
Fourth period, min 31
Triple by Sleva, another important one. Luwawu can’t score his own after and Sleva converts with a dunk later (he has 13 points), 75-76
End of the third quarter, 75-71
Tubelis misses the front three-point shot but there are more free throws, for Ulanovas, when he is fouled on the rebound. Score one again. Luwawu-Cabarrot receives personnel and shoots more free shots: he converts both. Finally Omoruyi notes, 75-71
Third quarter, min 29
Foul by Butkevicius and free throws for Luwawu, who scores both as well. Then there is a triple by Sleva at the end of the possession and a foul by Wright on Luwawu-Cabarrot. Write down both, 70-67
Third quarter, min 28
Maodo Lo does not score his three-point shot and there is a foul by Birutis on the rebound. Free throws for Simmons, who scores both. Luwawu’s foul and more free throws: now two for Ulanovas who converts one, 66-64
Third quarter, min 27
Simmons basket with a short shot after a reverse. Francisco fails in the three-point shot, then Omoruyi loses the ball and then there is a foul by Diop for Francisco’s free throws. Write them all down again. Omoruyi’s saving trip later, 64-63
Third quarter, min 26
Sylvain’s layup with advancement towards the rim. Luwawu misses the three-pointer from the corner and there is a foul by Spagnolo who sends Francisco to the free kick again. It was a shot and the point guard scores the three, 59-61
Third quarter, min 25
Diakite basket with alley oop. Response later with another alley oop from Francisco to Wright. Foul in attack by Kurucs, in a block. The Tubelis front triple fails and there is a kill from Diakite, 59-56
Third quarter, min 24
Diakite’s block and Francisco’s tactical foul to stop Baskonia’s transition. Great play finally by Trent Forrest approaching the rim. Then there is a triple by Brazdeikis and a loss by Diakite, 55-54
Third quarter, min 23
Diakite’s foul on Sylvain Francisco in a drive towards the hoop. The French point guard goes for the free throw and scores two. Howard responds with his second triple of the game, 53-51
Third quarter, min 22
Kurucs’ three-point shot is short. Basket after Giedraitis with a shot on the board and a layup by Kurucs with his left foot, 50-49
Third quarter, min 21
Kurucs layup after offensive rebound, Markus Howard had missed. Then Moses Wright answers under the basket below, 48-47
Rest, 46-45
Brazdeikis scores after the timeout with a layup. Bomb scored by Howard, whose shot was denied and took advantage of a space in the zone. Sylvain Francisco finally fails the triple, 46-45
Second quarter, min 19
Markus Howard misses the shot and so does Brazdeidis on the turn, a new mistake by Howard three later. Finally, layup scored by Luwawu-Cabarrot. Baskonia’s aggressiveness pays off in defense and Forrest finally scores, which causes time for Masiulis, 44-43
Second quarter, min 18
Three-pointer by Ulanovas at the end of possession and a dunk by Luwawu with an assist from Omoruyi. Moses Wright triple misses, 40-43
Second quarter, min 17
Baskonia cannot score and Wright has personal strength reaching the rim. He scores the two free throws and then there is a loss for Baskonia, 38-40
Second quarter, min 16
Omoruyi converts, Luwawu pass. Quick response from Moses Wright under the rim and Luwawu misses the triple. Time-out. Maodo Lo triple fails, 38-38
Second quarter, min 15
Tubelis tray with passed ring. Great back door from Baskonia for a mate from Simmons with assistance from Kurucs. Brazdeikis misses the triple and Luwawu makes an error in the triple. The one who does not fail is Francisco, also of three, 36-36
Second quarter, min 14
Howard breaks Wright’s ankles and scores from the corner (although stepping on the three-point line). Sylvain Francisco responds with penetration and forcing the foul. Write down the two free ones. Howard scores from three later, 34-31
Second quarter, min 13
Two plus one from Forrest, patiently reaching the side of the rim. Lack of Giedraitis. The additional Forrest scores, who then commits a foul on Lo and takes him to the free kick. Convert the two, 29-29
Second quarter, min 12
Markus Howard misses the three-point shot, his third mistake. Sleva scores under the basket and Diakite responds with a triple to keep Baskonia in the battle, 24-28
Second quarter, min 11
Equality in the first quarter and a slight advantage for Zalgiris at the start of this second quarter, 21-25
Trent Forrest and the good form of Tim Luwawu-Cabarrot will be key, as well as the team’s adaptation to the return of Markus Howard, a player who needs balls
The blaugranas have shown themselves to be very solid in their home field and have shown many qualities to be taken into account in these individual matches, without looking at the classification
Zalgiris has been able to win in his last two visits, in Milan and in Lyon, thanks to the point guard Sylvain Francisco, the engine of the team that already destroyed the Baskonia in the first leg with 32 rating credits
Zalgiris is currently eighth at 14-10. Baskonia is 8-16 in 17th position
Tomas Masiulis has doubts about guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who has missed the last six games
The capacity of the Kaunas team lies in their defense, which has allowed them to settle in the middle zone of a tight classification
Markquis Nowell Nor will he be able to help his teammates against Zalgiris, the team that shoots the best three-pointers in the championship
Tad Sedekerski He will not play against his compatriots either and his return is expected after the Copa del Rey
This is the case of Eugene. Omoruyiwho has knee problems and is a serious doubt to wear short against the Baltic team
Shooter Markus Howard will return to a depleted Vitorian team, which has had problems completing training this week due to discomfort in some players
Both teams fight to join the fight for play-in, crossing their good moments in a match that promises spectacle
Good evening and welcome to the story of Baskonia-Zalgiris, matchday 25 of the Endesa League that starts at 8:45 p.m. at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria
Worth a look
Six players in double figures for Baskonia, led by the 16 of Luwawu-Cabarrot