Zalgiris Kaunas strengthened its EuroLeague playoff push with an 87-85 win over Real Madrid on Friday night at Zalgirio Arena, with Sylvain Francisco deciding the outcome from the free-throw line in the closing seconds.
The result lifted the Lithuanian side to 18-14, tightening a congested race for the top six while securing the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Spanish club.
The contest featured 16 lead changes and remained level at 85-85 entering the final minute, reflecting a game that never swung beyond a two-possession margin after halftime.
Real Madrid had a chance to take control late, but Facundo Campazzo was forced into a contested attempt inside after meeting multiple defenders in the lane.
Francisco then attacked in transition and drew a foul on Mario Hezonja, converting both free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining to give Zalgiris the lead.
Hezonja’s last-second three-point attempt missed, sealing the home win in front of a sold-out crowd.
Francisco led all scorers with 20 points and added five assists, finishing a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Nigel Williams-Goss contributed 11 points and 10 assists, controlling tempo and initiating offense against his former team.
Zalgiris shot 52.1% on two-point attempts, slightly outperforming Real Madrid’s 48.8%, which proved decisive in a game defined by efficiency inside the arc.
The home team also held firm on the glass after an early surge from the visitors, closing the rebounding gap to 36-41 despite allowing multiple offensive boards in the opening possessions.
Chuma Okeke set the tone early for Madrid with second-chance scoring, while Walter Tavares added 12 points and 10 rebounds to anchor the interior.
Hezonja led the visitors with 18 points but shot 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, as Madrid finished 9-of-29 from three-point range.
The game shifted after halftime as defensive intensity increased, with both teams combining for just 64 points in the second half compared to 108 before the break.
Zalgiris relied on physical play and half-court execution down the stretch, limiting transition opportunities and forcing Madrid into contested perimeter attempts.
Zalgiris will host Bayern Munich next, with four of its final six games at home, while Madrid returns home to face Hapoel Tel Aviv.
