LKL Round 27 (Regular Season): Zalgiris outscore Rytas

The Regular Season in LKL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 6 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise took place in Kaunas where host Zalgiris (22-2) beat league's leader Rytas (22-5) 92-78 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rytas. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Lukas Lekavicius (180-1994) who scored 22 points and 5 assists. The former international Edgaras Ulanovas (199-1992) chipped in 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Justin Gorham (201-1998, college: Houston) who recorded 11 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zalgiris have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Rytas at the other side dropped to the second place with five games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Zalgiris. Rytas will play next round against Siauliai trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Zalgiris will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Neptunas in Klaipeda.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Panevezys. Local Lietkabelis (14-12) outscored 11th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (5-21) 90-63. It was a good game for Vytenis Lipkevicius (198-1989) who led his team to a victory with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Nikola Popovic contributed with 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Lietkabelis' coach Nenad Canak felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Simas Jarumbauskas (198-2000, agency: Octagon Europe) answered with 14 points and 8 rebounds for P.Zvaigzdes. Lietkabelis maintains sixth place with 14-12 record. P.Zvaigzdes lost their twelfth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 21 games lost. Lietkabelis will play against bottom-ranked Gargzdu (#12) in Gargzdai in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. P.Zvaigzdes will have a break next round.

Other games of round 27 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Jonava defeated Mazeikiai in a road game 79-62. Neptunas beat Lietkabelis at home 88-84. Juventus won against P.Zvaigzdes on the opponent's court 89-83. Nevezis unfortunately lost to Siauliai in a home game 86-94. Mazeikiai was rolled over Wolves on the road 78-104.
The best stats of 27th round was 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists by Jeffery Taylor of Wolves.



Mazeikiai - Jonava 62-79

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 7th ranked Mazeikiai (13-14) was defeated at home by eighth ranked Jonava (11-16) 79-62. It was a good game for Slovenian-Serbian center Ivan Marinkovic (207-1993, agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Serbian Strahinja Micovic (204-1992) contributed with 14 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Five Jonava players scored in double figures. Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 16 rebounds and Martynas Paliukenas (191-1993) added 11 points and 5 assists in the effort for Mazeikiai. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Jonava maintains eighth place with 11-16 record. Newly promoted Mazeikiai keeps the seventh position with 14 games lost. Jonava will play against Nevezis (#10) in Kedainiai in the next round. Mazeikiai will play on the road against Wolves in Vilnius and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Jonava: S.Micovic 14+6reb+2ast, I.Marinkovic 13+10reb+2ast, J.Furmanavicius 12+2reb+2ast, R.Larson 11+3reb+3ast, D.Garrett 10+1reb+6ast, T.Jogela 7+4reb+1ast
Mazeikiai: G.Staniulis 13+16reb+1ast, K.Bruhnke 11+1reb+2ast, M.Paliukenas 11+4reb+5ast, M.Gecevicius 8+1ast, K.Stokes 5+2reb+1ast, A.Antetokounmpo 4+3reb

Neptunas - Lietkabelis 88-84

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifth ranked Neptunas' (15-12) home victory over 6th ranked Lietkabelis (14-12) 88-84. Neptunas made 19-of-23 charity shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. Lietkabelis was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for the former international forward Deividas Gailius (200-1988, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with 19 points and 6 rebounds. The former international guard Zygimantas Janavicius (192-1989, agency: Interperformances) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 assists for the winners. International swingman Deividas Sirvydis (204-2000) answered with 19 points (perfect from the field making all six shots) and the former international guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Lietkabelis. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Neptunas. They maintain fifth place with 15-12 record. Lietkabelis lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the sixth position with 12 games lost. Neptunas will play against league's leader Zalgiris in Kaunas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Lietkabelis will play on the road against Gargzdu (#12) in Gargzdai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: A.Tubelis 22+5reb, D.Gailius 19+6reb+3ast, M.Girdziunas 13+2reb+5ast, Z.Janavicius 11+3reb+14ast, T.Lambrecht 11+5reb+2ast, T.Rutherford 6+4reb+1ast
Lietkabelis: D.Sirvydis 19+4reb+1ast, D.Baldwin 13+7reb+2ast, N.Popovic 12+1reb+4ast, P.Valinskas 12+5reb+5ast, M.Varnas 11+4reb+1ast, V.Lipkevicius 8+2reb+4ast

P.Zvaigzdes - Juventus 83-89

Very expected game in Pasvalys where 11th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (5-21) was defeated by fourth ranked Juventus (15-11) 89-83. Juventus made 24-of-29 charity shots (82.8 percent) during the game. P.Zvaigzdes was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) who led his team to a victory with 28 points. The former international center Sarunas Beniusis (206-1993, agency: BIG) contributed with 16 points and 6 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots) for the winners. Juventus' coach Oliver Kostic allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Trinidad and Tobago forward Kadeem Jack (206-1992, college: Rutgers) answered with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds and Simas Jarumbauskas (198-2000, agency: Octagon Europe) added 16 points and 6 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) in the effort for P.Zvaigzdes. Five P.Zvaigzdes players scored in double figures. Juventus maintains fourth place with 15-11 record. P.Zvaigzdes lost their twelfth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 21 games lost. Juventus will play against bottom-ranked Gargzdu (#12) in Gargzdai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. P.Zvaigzdes will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Juventus: T.Starks 28+3reb+3ast, S.Smith 18+1reb+1ast, S.Beniusis 16+6reb, R.Taylor 8+8reb+1ast, E.Saulys 7+3reb, Z.Skucas 5+6reb
P.Zvaigzdes: K.Jack 17+10reb+2ast, S.Jarumbauskas 16+6reb+1ast, J.Watson 15+3reb+4ast, T.Lekunas 14+1ast, A.Ate 11+1reb, D.Darryl 4

Zalgiris - Rytas 92-78

The biggest surprise took place in Kaunas where host Zalgiris (22-2) beat league's leader Rytas (22-5) 92-78 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rytas. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Lukas Lekavicius (180-1994) who scored 22 points and 5 assists. The former international Edgaras Ulanovas (199-1992) chipped in 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Justin Gorham (201-1998, college: Houston) who recorded 11 points and the other American import point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) added 11 points respectively. Four Zalgiris and five Rytas players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zalgiris have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Rytas at the other side dropped to the second place with five games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Zalgiris. Rytas will play next round against Siauliai trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Zalgiris will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Neptunas in Klaipeda.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: L.Lekavicius 22+5ast, B.Manek 13+3reb+2ast, E.Sumner 13+1reb+1ast, K.Evans 12+3ast, R.Smits 9+2reb+1ast, E.Ulanovas 6+8reb+4ast
Rytas: R.Cole 11+3reb+2ast, J.Gorham 11+4reb+2ast, G.Masiulis 10+2reb+2ast, M.Echodas 10+4reb+1ast, M.Foster 10+4reb+1ast, L.Uleckas 8+2reb

Nevezis - Siauliai 86-94

Everything could happen in Kedainiai at the game between two tied teams. Both ninth ranked Siauliai and 10th ranked Nevezis had identical 7-19 record. But Nevezis was not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Siauliai 94-86. It was a good game for American guard LJ Thorpe (196-1999, college: UNC Asheville, agency: Worldwide SM) who led his team to a victory with 25 points and 6 assists. Jamaican-Canadian forward Shaquille Keith (198-1993, college: Cape Breton) contributed with 15 points and 4 assists for the winners. Siauliai's coach Nikolajs Mazurs allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (180-1999) answered with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists and American forward Zane Waterman (203-1995, college: Manhattan) added 20 points in the effort for Nevezis. Siauliai maintains ninth place with 8-19 record. Nevezis lost their third game in a row. They keep the tenth position with 20 games lost. Siauliai will play against league's second-placed Rytas in Vilnius in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nevezis will play at home against Jonava (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: L.Thorpe 25+2reb+6ast, S.Keith 15+2reb+4ast, D.Paulius 12+7reb+2ast, S.Armand 9+2reb+3ast, B.Daniel 8+2reb, T.Pavelka 8+4reb+1ast
Nevezis: C.Ramey 23+1reb+1ast, A.Ebo 23+6reb+9ast, Z.Waterman 20+3reb+2ast, J.Marcinkevicius 7+4reb, I.Vaitkus 4+2reb+1ast, S.McNeil 3+1ast

Lietkabelis - P.Zvaigzdes 90-63

The game with biggest result difference took place in Panevezys. Local Lietkabelis (14-12) outscored 11th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (5-21) 90-63. Lietkabelis dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to P.Zvaigzdes' 34. They outrebounded P.Zvaigzdes 39-24 including a 33-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a good game for Vytenis Lipkevicius (198-1989) who led his team to a victory with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Bosnian-Serbian power forward Nikola Popovic (211-1997, college: Boston Coll.) contributed with 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Lietkabelis' coach Nenad Canak felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Simas Jarumbauskas (198-2000, agency: Octagon Europe) answered with 14 points and 8 rebounds and Trinidad and Tobago forward Kadeem Jack (206-1992, college: Rutgers) added 13 points in the effort for P.Zvaigzdes. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Lietkabelis maintains sixth place with 14-12 record. P.Zvaigzdes lost their twelfth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 21 games lost. Lietkabelis will play against bottom-ranked Gargzdu (#12) in Gargzdai in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. P.Zvaigzdes will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: V.Lipkevicius 14+8reb+2ast, N.Popovic 13+7reb+3ast, D.Slavinskas 13+4reb+4ast, D.Gagic 12+6reb, P.Valinskas 10+1ast, L.Liutauras 8+3reb+1ast
P.Zvaigzdes: S.Jarumbauskas 14+8reb+3ast, K.Jack 13+3reb+1ast, J.Watson 11+3reb, A.Ate 10+2reb, A.Simonis 8+1reb, D.Johnson 4+4reb

Wolves - Mazeikiai 104-78

Not a big story in a game in Vilnius where 7th ranked Mazeikiai (13-14) was outplayed by third ranked Wolves (19-8) 104-78. Wolves players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. It was a good game for Swedish-American forward Jeffery Taylor (201-1989, college: Vanderbilt) who led his team to a victory with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international forward Eigirdas Zukauskas (202-1992) contributed with 21 points for the winners. German Kay Bruhnke (204-2001) answered with 17 points and Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) added 6 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Mazeikiai. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Wolves. They maintain third place with 19-8 record despite having the same number of points like the leader Zalgiris. Newly promoted Mazeikiai keeps the seventh position with 14 games lost. Wolves will again play against Mazeikiai (#7) at home in the next round. Mazeikiai will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Wolves: J.Taylor 24+5reb+6ast, E.Zukauskas 21+4reb, T.Thurman 11+2ast, R.Sulaimon 10+7reb+3ast, R.Miniotas 9+5reb+1ast, G.Brooks 8+7reb+4ast
Mazeikiai: K.Bruhnke 17+4reb+2ast, D.Dolenc 12+5reb, K.Stokes 12+4reb+1ast, R.Jokubas 9+3reb+5ast, A.Antetokounmpo 8+1reb, E.Tubutis 7+7reb+1ast