Zalgiris Kaunas vs. CSKA: 79-84 (+5)
Zalgiris: Davies (19 + 7 rb + 4 to), Wolters (6 + 2 as), Walkup (3), White (8 + 7 rb + 3 bs), Ulanovas (9 + 3 rb) – start; Walton (10 + 3 as + 4 pf), Uleckas (DNP), Jankunas (2 + 3 to), Birutis (4), Milaknis (3 + 4 pf), Jokubaitis (2), Grigonis (13 + 3 rb + 3 as + 3 to + 4 pf)…
CSKA: Peters (2), Rodriguez (6 + 5 rb + 3 as + 3 st), Higgins (11 + 4 pf), Kurbanov (2 + 3 rb), Hunter (4 + 5 pf) – start; De Colo (13 + 3 as + 3 st + 4 pf), Bolomboy (0), Vorontsevich (5 + 6 rb + 2 as), Clyburn (19 + 4 rb + 3 as + 3 to), Hackett (19), Kulagin (DNP), Hines (3 + 2 as + 3 to + 4 pf)…
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
I’m very satisfied with the character we showed most of the game. Those are the moments, when you’ve been challenged, you’ve been doubted, and the players showed great character and responded on the court. We had our moments for sure, like I said. We were trying to keep our composure throughout the game. We were expecting Zalgiris would try full-court pressure. That third quarter could have cost us, because the aggressivity was high. We had a big difference, we tried to go to the line, too. But we played physical and aggressive basketball, so congratulations goes to the players. In these moments, with such a great crowd, against such a competitive team and a very physical team, we managed to force 18 turnovers on their court. I think this is one of the keys. Last but not least is the fact that my players, regarding the turnaround and the fact that Zalgiris took the lead, they kept believing in our game, and defensively I think we responded great. Offensively we found the way, either against switches to move the ball better – because at one point, we were stopped when they were switching – or when they were not switching, after that, to find the good looks. That was what characterized us throughout the season and throughout the first half. So congratulations to the players again, and congratulations to Zalgiris.
