Long wait is over: Zalgiris edge out PAO to get their first EuroLeague win / News - Basketnews.com

Zalgiris Kaunas (1-9) defeated Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (2-8) 76-69 (20-12, 23-25, 17-15, 16-17) to skid their horrific nine-game losing streak in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

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After the close third period, Panathinaikos spurted 5-0 at the start of the decisive quarter (57-60). However, Zalgiris responded with a 7-0 run on their own (67-57) after Arturas Milaknis, Janis Strelnieks, and Mantas Kalnietis baskets.

PAO continued the roller coaster ride, arranging an 8-0 push (65-67). Daryl Macon and Georgios Papagiannis scored the buckets. Later, the Greek powerhouse struggled to score while Tyler Cavanaugh hit a trey and Niels Giffey added two free throws (72-65) with 2:23 to go.

Daryl Macon converted two free throws from three (67-72) but Edgaras Ulanovas nailed a two-pointer on the other end (74-67) with 1:39 to play. Zalgiris got crucial stops, as Edgaras Ulanovas seal the deal with two successful shots from the charity stripe.

“I’d like to thank the players for this win,” Zdovc said. “We finally won and kept the opponent below 70 points. I don’t make a big deal about this win, we must keep going and believe. We rotate a lot of players, and it was easy for me because every one of them gave something.”

For the winners, Edgaras Ulanovas was a top performer, posting 11 points (3/3 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 drawn fouls, and 23 PIR.

Daryl Macon was a bright spot for PAO, registering 21 points (2/4 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 8/10 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 6 drawn fouls, and 23 PIR.

“It was a tough game,” Dimitris Priftis noted after the game. “Zalgiris had control of the game, but we were close. We approached the game at a certain moment. There was a couple of possessions which were bad for us, and they retook the lead.”

Zalgiris finished the first quarter strongly and created an 8-point advantage (20-12). Edgaras Ulanovas and Arturas Milaknis contributed with the buckets.

Zalgiris lead marked the 14 points (34-20) in the mid-second period but PAO closed the quarter with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 6 points (37-43), going into the locker room. Ioannis Papapetrou accelerated his team's offense.

Zalgiris: Arturas Milaknis 13, Tyler Cavanaugh 12 (9 REB), Edgaras Ulanovas 11 (6 REB, 3 AST), Marek Blazevic 10, Janis Strelnieks 9.

Panathinaikos: Daryl Macon 21 (6 REB, 3 AST), Ioannis Papapetrou 10 (4 REB), Georgios Papagiannis 7 (6 REB), Howard Sant-Roos 7, Okaro White 7.

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