2024-04-04 19:06:03
“Žalgiris” still has a very small chance to make it to the playoffs with 15 wins, but a miracle should happen – Partizan Belgrade and the other three contenders for tenth place must lose two matches.
The Kaunas team basically failed in the first two quarters. With the score tied at 2-2, Laurynas Birutis picked up two straight fouls and Monaco ran away with a 7-2 run and then even a 15-4 run. Antrea Trinchieri trailed 20-11 after the first quarter.
Although in the second quarter, the Kaunas reduced the deficit to 25:30, but “Monaco” restored the lead and went to rest with a double-digit lead, 39:29.
In the third quarter, the overall trend did not change – although the Kaunas once again reduced the difference to 35:41, our team’s mistakes and Keenan Evans’ inaccurate shots led to Monaco returning to a 12-point lead – 49:37.
Before the decisive quarter, the club of the principality was ahead 51:44, and after two minutes of play, it returned to the double-digit zone again – 54:44, and after a few minutes – 59:44.
Monaco started the most important half with an 8-0 run.
The people of Kaunas went va-bank 3 minutes before. when he reduced the deficit to 55:62, and after B. Manek’s three-pointer – already 58:63.
However, several successful opponents’ attacks and four points by D. Motiejūnas pushed the home team towards victory – 69:60.
In the rest of the time, no miracle happened: although the Kaunas reduced the difference to 65:69, and M. James did not score two points with penalties, it was still not possible to win.
With one round left before the end of the EuroLeague regular season, “Žalgiris” and “Monaco” with Donatas Motiejūnas are in different parts of the table.
“Žalgiris” now has only a theoretical chance to take tenth place and win the right to play in the playoffs. Monaco, meanwhile, continue to look to defend their place in the top four and gain home-court advantage in the quarter-final series.
In the last EuroLeague round, “Monaco” beat Villerban ASVEL 87:77 and has a two-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, the Žalgiris team beat Olimpia Milan 87:73 at home, and it was the third consecutive victory for the Kaunas team.
In the first round, the Lithuanian team disappointingly lost to Monaco 79:83 at home.
The Monaco team lost the French League match against the average St.Quentin team 69-71 in a rather unexpected way last Saturday.
2024-04-04 19:06:03