Zalgiris Kaunas secured its first home win of the 2026-27 EuroLeague season in emphatic fashion, beating LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 105-85 on Friday, October 23. Jonas Valanciunas led the Lithuanian side with 15 points and eight rebounds as Zalgiris improved to 3-4, while ASVEL fell to 2-5.
Zalgiris controlled the game from the opening quarter, taking a 29-20 lead before extending the margin to 50-34 by halftime.
The hosts continued to pull away in the third quarter, reaching a 78-53 advantage and leaving ASVEL with little chance of mounting a comeback.
The victory was built on Zalgiris’ dominance on the boards and perimeter shooting. The home team made 18 of 37 three-point attempts and outrebounded ASVEL 46-23, creating a decisive gap in second-chance opportunities and possession control. Zalgiris also recorded 25 assists and 11 steals.
Valanciunas, playing his first season with Zalgiris after a lengthy NBA career, made his presence felt inside against ASVEL’s Joel Bolomboy.
Carsen Edwards added 16 points, while Azuolas Tubelis scored 14 despite wearing a protective mask to shield a facial injury. Saben Lee contributed 12 points and seven assists, helping the hosts maintain their offensive rhythm.
ASVEL struggled to cope with Zalgiris’ pace and pressure, committing 15 turnovers, including 11 in the first half. The visitors also conceded 11 steals, allowing the hosts to generate transition opportunities and keep control throughout the contest.
Hugo Besson led ASVEL with 13 points, while Jae Crowder finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Crowder made only one of six attempts from three-point range as ASVEL failed to match Zalgiris’ outside shooting and rebounding production.
The defeat marked an unhappy return to Kaunas for ASVEL head coach Tony Parker, who visited the city for the first time since 2011. Parker, a four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, had led France to a runner-up finish at EuroBasket that year as a player.
Zalgiris will visit Virtus Bologna next Wednesday, while ASVEL will host Partizan on the same day.
