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An unexpected phenomenon in Kaunas. For the first time since December 2017, the basketball players “Žalgiris” from Kaunas had to recognize the advantage of the basketball players “Rytas” from Vilnius. In the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) match on Sunday, the Lithuanian champions lost 85:86 to their main opponent.
Overall, for the last time in the Lithuanian championship, the Vilnius players beat their rivals in February 2018. It is true that they continued to do so at home.
In this duel, the residents of Kaunas were able to do without Nigel Hayes, who was infected with the coronavirus, Artūras Milaknis, who suffered a groin injury, and Joffrey Lauvergne, who had back pain.
After this victory of the capital club, an impressive streak of ten consecutive victories of “Žalgiris” matches was missing.
Giedrius Žibėnas students wrote their third loss to titled rivals this season. Before that, the Kaunas club had to recognize the advantage of basketball players Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” and Utena “Juventus”.
In the ranks of “Žalgiris”, Thomas Walkup played more successfully, scoring 21 points (5/6 dvit., 3/6 trit.) And scoring 28 utility points.
“At the end of the match, after Th.Walkup’s performance, it seemed that we could break the match, but the defense decided to end the match,” said the Kaunas club strategist.
The hosts of the playground failed to stop Ivan Buva, who directed Vilnius “Rytas”. The Croatian midfielder scored 32 points (8/10 double, 3/4 trit, 7/8 penalty), bounced 7 balls and scored 39 utility points.
“It just came to our notice then. At the beginning of the game, he was thrown from a distance. We expected problems under the basket, but his successful play on the perimeter got us out of the robbers,” said M. Schiller after the duel over the leader. by Rytas.
The Austrian basketball specialist did not want to agree that the Lithuanian champions’ blank game was determined by a difficult schedule and stressed that it would not be much easier in the future.
“We played with a similar schedule throughout the season. Even now, three games a week await us. There is no excuse here, but we have to accept it,” said the Žalgiris strategist.
