Zalgiris overcome Siauliai in overtime, take a 2-0 series lead / News - Basketnews.com

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Zalgiris Kaunas will not have the chance to defend their Betsafe-LKL title, but they're still the overwhelming favorites to win third place in their local league. The team coached by Kazys Maksvytis prevailed over Siauliai in Game 2 of the best-of-five series by 90-85 (26-17, 17-18, 17-27, 20-18, 10-5) in extra time.

2-pointers this season

51%18,1Points made:18,1Accuracy:51,4%Place in standings:16Record max:28Record min:11Most made 2FGs:Josh NeboTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Game 3 will be held on Monday (May 30) in Kaunas.

Edgaras Ulanovas from Zalgiris and Martynas Varnas from Siauliai scored 16 points apiece, while the outing went down to the wire in the last quarter.

The EuroLeague side looked like the dominant force in the game, at least during the first 20 minutes. The game took an unexpected turn in the third quarter when Siauliai saw Giedrius Staniulis look like Vassilis Spanoulis. The Lithuanian forward led his team to a partial score of 27-17. Siauliai had a 17-0 run and take the 62-60 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Tyler Cavanaugh and Mantas Kalnietis came to the forefront. Zalgiris made a quick partial score of 8-16 that allowed them to stay away from trouble. But that wasn't a permanent situation.

Issuf Sanon and Donatas Sabeckis gave the hosts some hope (79-80) with less than one minute remaining, and when Zalgiris wasted not one, but four chances to score in the final seconds, the game headed to overtime.

Despite Sanon's six straight points, Siauliai couldn't keep up with the guests in the final minute. Zalgiris scored 4 unanswered points and sealed their second win.

Zalgiris Kaunas: Edgaras Ulanovas 16 (5/9 FG, 4/4 FT, 7 REB), Mantas Kalnietis 12 (5 AST), Tyler Cavanaugh 12, Arturas Milaknis 12.

Siauliai: Martynas Varnas 16 (5/11 FG, 2/2 FT), Nemanja Bezbradica 16 (4/10 FG, 8/8 FT), Donatas Sabeckis 12 (4/15 FG, 2/4 FT, 5 REB, 8 AST), Giedrius Staniulis 11 (5/7 FG, 1/3 FT).

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