Zalgiris – Unics Kazan 67-76: She remembered her good self

Unics Kazan didn’t pay for their poor start thanks to Mario Hezonia and then enforced their own rules of the game by beating Zalgiris (76-67) for the 25th EuroLeague game. Velimir Perasovic’s players ended a three-game losing streak, but not those of Yuri Zdovch, who now has eight straight negative results.

John Brown was pleasing in another game with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals, while Lorenzo Brown finished with a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists.

The race

The hosts were impressive in the opening minutes, shooting 5/5 and reaching +7 (13-6 in 5′) before Mario Hezonia took action. The former Panathinaikos OPAP striker was the only guest player who had an aggressive rhythm early on, making collected baskets and contributing to the complete reversal of the scene, already at the beginning of the second period (26-34 in 13′). The more Unics Kazan found alternative sources of execution, the more frustrated Zalgiris became.

Still, Yuri Zdovch’s team found a way to close the gap, with the halftime -6 (39-45) largely thanks to Edgaras Ulanovas and the 12/17 two points.

In the third ten minutes, the two sides stayed close for a long time, but the main thing was that Unics Kazan now had more options in attack. Lorenzo Brown did a great job in execution and creation, John Brown finished the phases near the basket and somehow the guests pressed the accelerator. The +3 (52-55) in the 28th minute turned into a +13 (56-69) in the 34th minute and it was clear who was in charge of the win.

Whatever the hosts tried from then on, it didn’t work. Unics Kazan provided the necessary management and achieved the ultimate dominance that keeps them in a position of power for a EuroLeague postseason spot.

THE REFEREES: Lamonika-Pereth-Balak.

THE TEN MINUTES: 26-24, 39-45, 54-63, 67-76.

ZALGIRIS (Zdovc): Webster 4, Blazevic 4 (4 errors), Lekavitsius 14 (2), Miniotas 8 (1), Lukosiounas 5 (1), Milaknis, Cavano 9 (1, three points, 6 rebounds), Gifai 4, Lovern 3 (1/4 two points), Ulanovas 16 (5/7 two points, 1/2 three points, 3/4 shots, 7 rebounds).

UNIKS KAZAN (Perasovic): Brown J. 15 (7/14 two points, 1/3 shots, 11 rebounds, 5 steals), Spisou 3 (1), Kanan 5 (1/6 three points), Brown L. 19 (6/ 11 two points, 2/4 three points, 1/1 shot, 10 assists), Hezonia 14 (1 treble, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Uzinski 5 (1), Dzekiri 4 (5 rebounds), Meyjo 5 (1), Vorontsevich 6 (2).

Group Statistics – Zalgiris: 20/32 two points, 6/16 three points, 9/13 shots, 28 rebounds (22 defensive + 6 offensive), 12 assists, 6 steals, 16 errors, 1 block.

Group statistics – Unics Kazan: 22/46 two points, 9/23 three points, 5/7 shots, 28 rebounds (15 defensive + 13 offensive), 17 assists, 12 steals, 8 errors, 1 block.

The next commitments of the teams: Another devilish week follows for Zalgiris as they will play first with Armani Milano in Kaunas (02/08, postponed) and then with Monaco (02/10) at Stade Louis II. For its part, Unics Kazan will host the Red Star (2 November).