Zalgiris Kaunas extended its EuroLeague winning streak to three games with an 87-80 home victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Friday, October 30. Jonas Valanciunas led the hosts with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Carsen Edwards added 17 as Zalgiris improved to 5-4.
Zalgiris established control in the opening quarter, building a 27-21 lead after starting the game with a 20-9 advantage. The hosts maintained their edge through the remaining periods, entering the fourth quarter ahead 69-57 and holding off Partizan’s late comeback attempt.
Valanciunas, who joined Zalgiris in the offseason after his NBA career, finished with a game-high 25 performance index rating (PIR). He made five of seven two-point attempts and six of eight free throws, while also collecting eight rebounds.
Edwards scored 17 points and handed out four assists, while Azuolas Tubelis contributed 11 points and six rebounds. Zalgiris shot 59.4% on two-pointers and outrebounded Partizan 39-38, while limiting the visitors to five three-pointers on 23 attempts.
Partizan briefly threatened to turn the game around with a 14-2 run that cut the deficit to 77-73 late in the fourth quarter. Zalgiris responded to preserve the lead and secure its third consecutive EuroLeague victory.
Nikola Tanaskovic paced Partizan with 19 points, while Ethan Thompson added 15 and Luca Vildoza scored 14. Carlik Jones, however, struggled against Zalgiris’ defensive pressure, finishing with seven points on 3-of-14 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Jones had also struggled in Partizan’s 82-75 defeat at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Wednesday. Partizan has now lost two consecutive games after opening its EuroLeague campaign with three straight wins, dropping to 4-5.
The result left Zalgiris 10th in the standings and Partizan 12th after nine rounds. Zalgiris visits Besiktas on Friday, November 6, while Partizan hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv on the same day.
