Zalgiris Kaunas continued its late-season surge in the EuroLeague with a 78-71 win over FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday night at Zalgirio Arena.
The victory lifted Zalgiris to 19-14 in the standings and extended its home winning streak to five games, reinforcing the Lithuanian club’s position in the playoff race.
The result followed a recent statement win against Real Madrid and highlighted the momentum building in Kaunas at a critical stage of the regular season.
Zalgiris relied heavily on interior scoring during the first half as its outside shooting struggled.
The home side made only one three-pointer before the break, forcing the offense to operate through the paint.
Forward Azuolas Tubelis delivered a steady performance early, scoring 12 first-half points and finishing with a game-high 21.
Despite Tubelis’ efficiency, Zalgiris had difficulty asserting physical control in the opening half.
Bayern matched the hosts on the boards and kept the contest close while limiting Zalgiris’ perimeter opportunities.
The turning point arrived in the third quarter when the Lithuanian side increased its defensive pressure.
Zalgiris produced a decisive 13-0 run that shifted momentum and forced Bayern into a series of costly mistakes.
Moses Wright played a major role in the second-half push after a quiet start.
The American center scored 16 points and collected seven rebounds, asserting himself inside after producing just four points before halftime.
Dustin Sleva also contributed to the third-quarter surge, finishing with 11 points and knocking down two important three-pointers.
Sylvain Francisco controlled the tempo throughout the night, recording 14 points and seven assists while directing the offense.
Zalgiris also delivered a strong defensive performance against Bayern’s perimeter attack.
Sharpshooter Andi Obst was limited to just two points as the hosts denied him clean looks from beyond the arc.
The Lithuanian side also tightened its rebounding in the second half, allowing only three offensive rebounds to Bayern after halftime.
Oscar da Silva led Bayern with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes added 11 points and Justus Hollatz finished with 10.
Zalgiris will face another key test Friday when it travels to play Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, while Bayern returns home to host LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Thursday.
