Panev\u0117\u017eys\u2019 7bet-Lietkabelis achieved a dramatic victory in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) semifinals, defeating Rytas Vilnius 76:73 (23:12, 18:21, 16:21, 19:19) at home.<\/p>\n
This result evens the best-of-three series at 1-1.<\/p>\n
The first game in Vilnius ended with a Rytas win, 86:82. The third matchup will take place on Wednesday, June 4.<\/p>\n
Just before the game, it was confirmed that 7bet-Lietkabelis, already without Vytenis Lipkevi\u010dius and Daniel Lavrinovi\u010dius, would also miss Martynas Varnas due to a stress fracture in his foot.<\/p>\n
The home team quickly resisted Rytas\u2019 attempts to take the lead. D\u017eord\u017ee Gagi\u010dius pushed 7bet-Lietkabelis forward with his scoring, and Dovis Bi\u010dkauskis added two more points \u2013 10:4. Even with Gabrielius Mald\u016bnas sitting out due to two personal fouls, Panev\u0117\u017eys maintained control (16:8), eventually extending their advantage. Oleksandras Kovliaras hit a three-pointer (21:10), and the first quarter ended with the hosts ahead 23:12.<\/p>\n
Despite efforts from Gytis Radzevi\u010dius and \u0104\u017euolas Tubelis to help Rytas, Nenad \u010canak\u2019s team responded, restoring a double-digit lead after a Mantas Rub\u0161tavi\u010dius basket \u2013 34:22. Rytas then went on a 9-0 run to close the gap (31:34), but Dovis Bi\u010dkauskis hit a long-range shot, and Paulius Danusevi\u010dius added two more points \u2013 39:31. By halftime, 7bet-Lietkabelis held a solid lead, 41:33.<\/p>\n
G. Radzevi\u010dius reduced the deficit (38:43), but Rytas could not get closer. D\u017eiugas Slavinskas helped 7bet-Lietkabelis regain a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter \u2013 52:40. R.J. Cole and Savionas Flagg scored key points for Rytas, Vilnius (47:55), and with one minute left in the quarter, the teams were separated by six points \u2013 51:57. R.J. Cole\u2019s next basket brought Rytas fully back into the game (54:57).<\/p>\n
Despite Rytas trying to seize the initiative, the lead remained with Panev\u0117\u017eys \u2013 61:55. S. Flagg scored crucial points (57:61), G. Masiulis added a three-pointer (60:61), but G. \u017dib\u0117nas received a technical foul. After that, M. Normantas scored a decisive basket to tie (62:62) and, with four minutes remaining, put Rytas ahead \u2013 67:66, the first lead since the opening minutes.<\/p>\n
The tie continued with just a few minutes left \u2013 71:71. P. Danusevi\u010dius hit a three-pointer, while G. Radzevi\u010dius missed. M. Normantas then cut the lead to one point (73:74), prompting another timeout. With 72 seconds remaining, O. Kovliaras missed, Rytas had possession but failed to score. With half a minute left, O. Kovliar drew a foul and made both free throws, leaving Rytas less than five seconds to respond. The visitors turned the ball over, sealing the game.<\/p>\n
7bet-Lietkabelis:<\/strong> Mantas Rub\u0161tavi\u010dius 19, Dovis Bi\u010dkauskis 14 (4 rebounds, 4 assists), Oleksandras Kovliaras 14, Djordje Gagic 13, Paulius Danusevi\u010dius 13.<\/p>\n Rytas Vilnius:<\/strong> Gytis Radzevi\u010dius 21, Margiris Normantas 17, R.J. Cole 9, Gytis Masiulis 5, Savionas Flagg 5, \u0104\u017euolas Tubelis 5 (8 rebounds).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Panev\u0117\u017eys\u2019 7bet-Lietkabelis achieved a dramatic victory in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) semifinals, defeating Rytas Vilnius 76:73 (23:12, 18:21, 16:21, 19:19) at home. This result evens the best-of-three series at 1-1. The first game in Vilnius ended with a Rytas win, 86:82. The third matchup will take place on Wednesday, June 4. Just before the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rytas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n