Zalgiris Kaunas strengthened its playoff position on Friday night with a 93-82 comeback win over Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv at a packed Zalgirio Arena.
With 10 regular-season rounds remaining, the Lithuanian side improved to 16-12 and completed a sweep of the season series, while the Israeli club dropped to 16-11.
Moses Wright delivered a career-high 25 points on 8-of-10 shooting inside the arc and a perfect 9-of-9 from the line.
The forward also grabbed six rebounds and posted a game-high 34 PIR, anchoring the hosts in stretches when perimeter shots were not falling.
Zalgiris shot just 7-of-23 from three-point range, but it compensated by converting 29-of-42 two-point attempts, a 69% clip that consistently pressured Hapoel’s interior defense.
The home team also collected 10 offensive rebounds and finished with 19 assists against only nine turnovers, numbers that reflected improved execution in key moments.
Azuolas Tubelis added 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Maodo Lo recorded 13 points and a season-high seven assists. Nigel Williams-Goss contributed 10 points and six assists as the backcourt organized the offense.
The contest swung several times before the break.
Back-to-back triples from Ignas Brazdeikis and Sylvain Francisco early in the second quarter gave Zalgiris momentum, but Johnathan Motley answered with consecutive three-pointers during an 11-0 run that shifted control.
Elijah Bryant capped that stretch with a nine-meter buzzer-beater for a 34-32 lead, the visitors’ first advantage of the night.
Hapoel extended its margin to 52-46 in the third quarter, yet the hosts quickly erased the deficit by attacking the paint and limiting live-ball turnovers.
The Israeli side’s final lead came at 64-63 early in the fourth.
Zalgiris responded with a 10-2 run, highlighted by two Francisco three-pointers 75 seconds apart, each pushing the margin to double digits.
From there, the home side controlled the tempo and closed the game at the foul line.
Hapoel committed 16 turnovers and allowed nearly 70% shooting on two-point attempts.
Zalgiris will next host Olympiacos Piraeus on Feb. 25, while Hapoel welcomes EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Feb. 26 as the playoff race tightens across the standings.
