A no-bearing game in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) became one filled with drama and intrigue as Wolves Twinsbet (22-8) downed the league-leading BC Žalgiris of Kaunas (25-4) to the score of 97-93 (17:26, 35:13, 25:26, 20:28) at home in Twinsbet Arena.
Žalgiris started the game with an offensive burst that quickly opened up a double-digit lead for the visitors - 16:6. Keenan Evans and Demetre Rivers then combined forces to extend the lead to 24-11. Wolves Twinsbet's Tre'Shawn Thurman responded with a three-pointer and Vaidas Kariniauskas ended the first quarter with a buzzer-beating long-distance bucket from near-midcourt to keep the home team close - 17:26.
When Zalgiris attempted to break away, Rasheed Sulaimon connected on a tough and-1 basket and Regimantas Miniotas then added a three-pointer to make it 25:35. The Wolves' push did not stop here - Jeffery Taylor tied the game with his free throws, and Arturs Žagars finally gave the lead to the home team after his three-point make - 38:35. Eigirdas Žukauskas' three-pointer capped a backbreaking 26:0 Wolves run for a 10-point cushion, 45:35. Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri was then called for a technical foul after complaining to the referees. The visitors managed to stop the bleeding with free throws but still trailed 39:52 after R. Sulaimon nailed back-to-back three-pointers.
After the halftime break, the Wolves Twinsbet lead ballooned to 20 points (63:43) early in the third quarter. When Žalgiris tried to chip away at the gap, R. Sulaimon hit again from long distance to keep the visitors at arm's length, 72:59. Garrison Brooks then threw down a vicious dunk just a few plays later for a 77:61 advantage. The quarter ended with the hosts still leading 77-65.
In the final quarter, K. Evans managed to tow the Kaunas club to just six points after sinking his free throws - 73:79. Edmond Sumner fired a three-pointer to bring Žalgiris even closer down one basket, but A. Žagars immediately responded with his own three-pointer to make it 87:82. Rolands Šmits soon tied the score with his long-distance bucket, and another bomb from beyond the arc for the Latvian put the visitors ahead - 93:90. R. Miniotas scored a two-pointer from inside the paint, and then T. Thurman sank two free throws to re-take the lead for the home team - 94:93. R. Sulaimon split his charities afterwards but Kevarrius Hayes turned the ball over after rebounding a missed shot. R. Sulaimon was once again sent to the free throw stripe but made both shots this time to extend the Wolves Twinsbet lead to four, 97:93. Žalgiris' final possession resulted in another turnover, and the drama finally ended for this highly anticipated match.
R. Sulaimon led Vilnius to victory playing in just 24 minutes while logging 27 points (4/7 2pt FGs, 4/7 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 24 utility points.
The home team nailed 52 percent (15/29) of their three-point attempts and made fewer mistakes (10:16), while Žalgiris tried to compensate for these by winning the rebounding battle (39:33).
This was the fifth faceoff between these two teams this season. Wolves Twinsbet won the first match between them 75:64, but the Kaunas team retaliated in their arena with a lopsided victory - 79:55. Meanwhile, in the quarterfinals of the King Mindaugas Cup (Citadele KMT), Žalgiris won the first 95:76, and the second match ended in a draw (82:82).