Lithuanian League Finals, Game 2: May 9, 2009
|
Lietuvos Rytas tied the best-of-seven Lithuanian League finals by thrashing archrivals Zalgiris 100-58 in Vilnius in Game 2 on Saturday. Series move now to Kaunas fo Game 3, as L. Rytas will try to keep its momentum going while Zalgiris needs a major turnaround. Arturas Jomantas led the winners with 16 points. Chuck Eidson added 15 - all in the first half -, Marius Petravicius and Michailas Anisimovas each had 12 while Martynas Gecevicius got 10 for L. Rytas. Dainius Salenga had 12 points for Zalgiris while Jonas Maciulis added 11 for the guests, that led 20-27 early in the second quarter. Eidson, Jomantas and Donatas Zavackas fueled a game-breaking 28-2 run that allowed L. Rytas to get a 52-31 margin near halftime. L. Rytas kept rolling early in the third quarter, as a three-pointer by Justas Sinica sealed the outcome, 67-34, midway through the third period. In the third place playoff series, Siauliai edged Neptunas 93-101 in Game 2 with 23 points from Saulius Kuzminskas to get a 2-0 lead.
Eidson had 7 points - including a wild dunk - in a 9-2 opening run but three-pointers by Paulius Jankunas and Maciulis brought Zalgiris back to life, 11-8. L. Rytas did not find its scoring rhythm with Zygimantas Janavicius also struck from downtown to tie it at 16-16. Jomantas and Eidson stepped up for L. Rytas but Salenga downed a triple for a 20-22 Zalgiris edge after 10 minutes. A dunk by Eurelijus Zukauskas gave Zalgiris its biggest lead, 20-27, early in the second quarter. It didn't last long, however, as a three-pointer by Jomantas ignited a game-breaking 28-2 run in which Gecevicius, Mindaugas Lukauskis and Eidson also struck from downtown. By the time Eidson set the crowd on fire with a layup-plus-foul, L. Rytas already led 52-31. A layup by Sarunas Vasiliauskas fixed the halftime score at 52-33. Zalgiris needed a wild comeback to keep its option alive but L. Rytas kept rolling. Steponas Babrauskas and an unstoppable Petravicius helped the hosts to seal the outcome, 67-34, midway through the third quarter. Zalgiris kept trying but all L. Rytas were already celebrating a historical win.
| Finals Playoffs, best of 7 games |
| Record |
Team |
Game 1 |
G. 2 |
G. 3 |
G. 4 |
G. 5 |
G. 6 |
G. 7 |
| 0 |
Zalgiris (1) |
84 |
58 |
May11 |
May14 |
*May18 |
*May20 |
*May23 |
| 2 |
Lietuvos Rytas (2) |
94 |
100 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2 |
3rd place Siauliai |
101 |
101 |
May10 |
*May13 |
*May15 |
|
|
| 0 |
3rd place Neptunas |
93 |
93 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| Final and 3rd place, Playoffs round games |
| Game 1 |
Zalgiris vs. Lietuvos Rytas |
84-94 |
May 6 |
| Game 1 |
Siauliai vs. Neptunas |
101-93 |
May 4 |
| Game 2 |
Lietuvos Rytas vs. Zalgiris |
100-58 |
May 9 |
| Game 2 |
Neptunas vs. Siauliai |
93-101 |
May 7 |
| Game 3 |
Zalgiris vs. Lietuvos Rytas |
- |
May 11 |
| Game 3 |
Siauliai vs. Neptunas |
- |
May 10 |
| Game 4 |
Lietuvos Rytas vs. Zalgiris |
- |
May 14 |
| Game 4 |
Neptunas vs. Siauliai |
- |
*May 13 |
| Game 5 |
Zalgiris vs. Lietuvos Rytas |
- |
*May 18 |
| Game 5 |
Siauliai vs. Neptunas |
- |
*May 15 |
| Game 6 |
Lietuvos Rytas vs. Zalgiris |
- |
*May 20 |
| Game 7 |
Zalgiris vs. Lietuvos Rytas |
- |
*May 23 |
|
|
Euroleague.net
|
Print Send Share
|