2024-05-02 07:54:29
In the regular season, Klaipeda will face Šiauliai, and Wolves Twinsbet will face Kaunas “Žalgiris”. The people of Vilnius have already secured the third position, while the people of Klaipėda are balancing between 5th and 6th. “7bet-Lietkabelis” from Panevėžys comes closest to them (14-13).
If “Neptunes” stays sixth, it is “Wolves Twinsbet” that will be waiting for him in the quarter-finals.
Although Vaidas Kariniauskas and Garrison Brooks led “Wolves Twinsbet”, the Vilnius team did not enjoy the lead for long – Deividas Gailius equalized the score – 9:9. Mindaugas Girdžiūnas overcame the result with a free throw, but in the end, after the first quarter, there was a tie – 15:15.
After the shots of Martynas Pacevičius and Ignos Sargiūnas, Klaipėda citizens gradually took the initiative into their own hands – 26:21. Josh Newkirk continued the run, and after A. Tubeli’s layup, the difference was already in double digits – 31:21. The “dry” section cost the Wolves dearly, as only Artūrs Žagar’s penalty added points, and after a powerful second half, “Neptūnas” led 46:29.
The lead of “Neptūnos” was close to crushing (50:32), although Rasheed Sulaimonas, Jeff Taylor and Kristupas Žemaitis softened the result – 40:52. “Neptūnas” kept the advantage in their hands and led 67:53 after three quarters.
Martynas Pacevičius hit his first three-pointer of the season and second of his career at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
R.Sulaimons and J.Taylor brought positives to Vilnius, who trailed only 71:77 with half of the quarter left. Ž. Janavičius and Regimantas Miniotas exchanged shots (73:79), and R. Sulaimonas, with 2 minutes left, nailed a very important three-pointer – 80:83. After the break, “Neptūnas” did not take advantage of two opportunities, but G.Brooks was also given a foul in attack, and soon J.Taylor received a technical penalty.
Thus, the difference increased (85:80), and 70 seconds were left to play. R.Sulaimons hit from a distance (83:85), and the attack of “Neptune” was delayed. There were 4 seconds left, and they were enough for R. Sulaimon, whose three-pointer snatched the victory for Wolves Twinsbet.
R. Sulaimons has a total of 24 points, 5 rebounds and 30 utility points.
“Neptūnas”: Martynas Pacevičius 16 (23 nb), Đžuolas Tubelis 14, Žygymantas Janavičius (8 assists) and Thomas Rutherford – 10 each, Ignas Sargiūnas 9.
“Wolves Twinsbet”: Rasheed Sulaimonas 24 (4/7 tr., 30 .b.), Jeff Taylor 16 (5 rebounds), Vaidas Kariniauskas 12, Kristupas Žemaitis 7, Eigirdas Žukauskas 6.
2024-05-02 07:54:29