Barcelona falls to Zalgiris

Euroleague

matchday 29That's how it was

Zalgiris

91 84

Finalized

Barca

Barça fell (91-84) this Friday in their visit to Zalgiris Kaunas on matchday 29 of the Euroleague, overcome by local decision and intensity from the defense on a day of strong emotions that erased the theoretical difference between leader and bottom team.

Players from both teams took to the field with a banner reading "no to war" and the Lithuanian team did so wearing the colors of the Ukrainian flag on their jersey.

The culé team lost in Europe six days later and remains 21-6 at the top of the table although with the same victories as Real Madrid.

Sarunas Jasikevicius's men pulled Nikola Mirotic (26 points) in moments of suffering, but bled to death with 22 turnovers.

The locals had more arguments, with a great Lukas Lekavicius (22) and the domain inside led by Lauvergne.

Despite being ruled out of the fight for this Euroleague, the Kaunas team played highly motivated against the best possible rival.

Barça, Jasikevicius, the National Holiday, the presentation twinned with Ukraine and its colours, a full pavilion and a recent good run gave Zalgiris the intensity and game to fight.

Barça found it very difficult to attack from the start, although he scored from three, without a good percentage either (0-9).

Lekavicius and Ulanovas put the hosts in action while the leader held on at least with the defense.

With foul problems from Davies and Sanli and without success from the outside, Barça found themselves with a complicated puzzle if they wanted to succeed in Kaunas.

Kuric added points but the culé attack was a dropper in the second quarter.

Smits suffered from five and Jasikevicius managed some order with Calathes.

The task of improving a sad set fell to Mirotic, not inspired by the triple but determined to give his team some inside play against a great Zalgiris defense.

The Hispanic-Montenegrin returned to the floor with a 31-26 and cleared the deficit that Kuric left in the second half (35-35).

After the break, the triple worked again for Barça, but not the rest.

Lauvergne was again better inside and Lekavicius led the Lithuanians in defense and attack.

Mirotic waved the Barça flag and Jokubaitis energized the transition when it was time to exchange, Barça achieving a small cushion in the battle (54-63).

Kuric hit from outside but also a Lekavicius with a special motivation, at the start of the last local quarter to light up the Zalgirio Arena.

Barça headed for the decisive moment with that bad aftertaste and got tangled up in losses, including several by Mirotic, without solutions and with Lauvergne and Nebo winning inside (76-72).

With three minutes to go, the 'Saras' team did not even doubt their rival and fell at the boss's house, sentenced by Ulanovas.

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