The Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), sponsored by Betsson, witnessed the biggest sensation of this season.
Utena Juventus managed to overcome Vilnius Rytas on the road with a score of 101:95 (30:32, 20:24, 30:27, 21:12), thus advancing to the semifinals.
The Utena team won the series 2:0, while Rytas, who finished second in the regular season, ended their season without reaching the top four. The last time this occurred was in 1997.
The Utena team had not played in the LKL semifinals, sponsored by Betsson, since 2021. This year, Juventus will face either Klaipėda Neptūnas or Gargždai in the semifinals.
Malik Johnson, who sustained an injury in the previous game, did not play, and Rytas was also without Jordan Caroline and Kay’us Bruhnke.
As soon as Rytas attempted to pull ahead, Paulius Valinskas made a shot, restoring the advantage for Utena, and Maxwell Lewis added two more points – 8:5. Artūras Gudaitis stepped to the free-throw line for four shots – making two, while Giedrius Žibėnas received a technical foul just three and a half minutes into the game. Free throws continued to be Rytas’ way of scoring points, keeping the score close – 13:12. In half a quarter, Rytas only converted 2 field goals, while scoring 8 points from free throws.
Lukas Uleckas and M. Lewis gave the visitors a more tangible lead (23:18), which Augustas Marčiulionis reduced, and M. Echodas’ good run overturned the score – 26:25. Hassanas Diarra’s basket with a foul restored parity (30:30), but I. Sargiūnas closed the quarter precisely – 32:30.
Jerrick Harding hit a three-pointer with a foul, but H. Diarra responded with three points of his own – 33:36. Paulius Valinskas grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back (35:36), and Juventus’ run extended to 14:0 – 44:36. The hosts ended their cold spell (40:44), even as M. Lewis was flying on both ends of the court. J. Harding and A. Marčiulionis continued the run, tying the score (44:44), and P. Valinskas’ emotions cost him a technical and his fourth personal foul. Soon after, Šarūnas Beniušis and Martynas Echodas also received technical fouls, followed by the Juventus bench shortly thereafter.
Kenny Cherry received an unsportsmanlike foul with 35 seconds remaining. Finally, after the first half, which Rytas concluded with free throws, the hosts led 56:50.
H. Diarra and L. Uleckas scored crucial points for their team and prevented Rytas from pulling away, though Kenneth Smith, hitting three-pointers, had other plans – 69:59. Š. Beniušis scored a two-pointer with a foul (62:69), but fouls thinned out the Utena team, with the dominant M. Lewis sitting on the bench with his fourth. Erikas Venskus made free throws, but G. Masiulis launched a three-pointer (74:65). However, H. Diarra executed two good attacks – 71:76. Finally, E. Šaulys’ three-pointer forced G. Žibėnas to call a timeout – 74:76. The Utena team was not just breathing down their necks – E. Venskus tied the score (80:80), only for G. Masiulis’ shot to preserve a symbolic advantage for Rytas – 83:80.
A. Gudaitis scored two points with a foul (89:82), but several Rytas turnovers proved costly – the guests capitalized – 88:89. L. Uleckas answered I. Sargiūnas (90:91), leaving Utena’s deficit symbolic with 4 minutes remaining. H. Diarra stole the ball and drew a foul, taking the lead (92:91), while L. Uleckas’ fifth foul ended his game. M. Echodas made one free throw, and parity lingered for a while – 92:92.
H. Diarra and M. Lewis led the guests (97:92) with just 2 minutes left. As Rytas’ offense stalled, Juventus had possession, but their shot missed. S. Lukošius launched a three-pointer, Utena’s fast break was unsuccessful, and I. Sargiūnas missed an opportunity to put Rytas ahead – 95:97. With one minute left, H. Diarra calmly extended Juventus’ lead, and the guests never relinquished their victory – 100:95.
Rytas scorers: Kenneth Smith 20 (6/8 3FG), Ignas Sargiūnas 14 (2/11 3FG), Jerrick Harding 12, Augustas Marčiulionis 11, Gytis Masiulis 10.
Juventus scorers: Hassanas Diarra 30, Maxwell Lewis 24 (4/5 3FG), Lukas Uleckas 14, Šarūnas Beniušis and Paulius Valinskas (3/12 FG, 6 reb) – 7 each.