Neptunas picked up its first victory of the season despite giving up a big lead again
Arnas Velicka's defensive stand helped lift Neptunas over Hamburg
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 4 of 18
Regular Season
group a
Neptunas KlaipedaNEP
9788
Veolia Towers HamburgHAM
group a
Overview
w
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Neptunas Klaipeda found itself on the ropes trying to stave off a comeback from Veolia Towers Hamburg. And in the end, it was a tough defensive stand over 2 minutes in the fourth quarter that allowed Neptunas to finally grab its first win of the season - and get a monkey off its back.
The Lithuanian team gave up a 14-point lead, but then performed well down the stretch for a 97-88 victory to improve to 1-3 in Group A - winning a battle of the final two winless teams in the competition.
“It feels great that we managed to complete our goals today and grabbed the victory,” said Martynas Pacevicius, who collected 10 points and 11 rebounds for Neptunas.
Pacevicius was part of a balanced attack for the team with seven players scoring in double figures. Donatas Tarolis had 20 points, Rihards Lomazs scored 16 points and Arnas Velicka collected 12 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners.
Velicka was the hero in the big fourth quarter surge - thanks also to Hamburg’s playmaker LJ Thorpe having fouled out with just under 4 minutes to go.
The Lithuanian international Velicka drew the fifth foul on Thorpe and made a free throw. He then stole an in-bounds pass from Kenneth Ogbe and tossed it up for a Donatas Tarolis alley-oop for an 88-80 lead with 3 minutes left. Velicka continued to hound Ogbe and forced another turnover, diving on the ground for the steal and then, from his back, passing to Arnas Berucka for a layup. Velicka added 5 of 6 free throws in the final 38 seconds to seal the win.
“In offensive games like this, the team that finds the stretch of good defense for 2 minutes will win the game. And that was the 2 minutes in the fourth quarter when Arnas grabbed the 2 steals and everybody else stepped up,” Neptunas head coach Gediminas Petrauskas said.
“We are very glad to get the W in front of our fans. We have to learn how to control the game with a 10-12 point lead. Hamburg got back into the game and tied the game. So it was nerve-racking in the end. But finally, we got over the hump and we won the game.”
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GBE2TQQwqQw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Neptunas - Hamburg | Round 4 | EuroCup 2025-26
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/IGRyg7w6dM4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Neptunas Klaipeda | Round 3 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/reEZ5XzsM-4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 3 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nd10GA8HPtU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Round 4 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/587ecd11-dcff-4484-bd58-311a7f393409.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A172%3A38]()
Donta Hall’s brutal dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/10/14/HYRahshVs6JBI3er3K48t05z6hC3BHmN-1760471312945.jpg]()
Kai Jones throws it down again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5ed3d6c1-a2d7-4f08-bf3f-793c7c831503.jpg?crop=3559%3A2002%3Anowe%3A0%3A757]()
Donta Hall rejects Larkin! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/33db3d47-f065-4015-bde5-69501c01e1ff.jpg?crop=740%3A417%3Anowe%3A283%3A25]()
Kai Jones dunks on the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e4891e6b-0c4e-4d46-aa27-350bd5dcef05.jpg?crop=4000%3A2250%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Sasha's Corner debuts this week in Episode 3
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/TXD3Umgk6l8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Thessaloniki Betsson-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 2 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OBgiiT-Fn8s/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Neptunas Klaipeda-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 2 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/v6qp7fIe-oI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg 85-100 Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 1 highlights
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ie4xixfZzEs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Slask Wroclaw 95-85 Neptunas Klaipeda | Round 1 highlights
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9Hia1ncsOIg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f1f5f203-8006-48de-b07f-05ba0d0b3236.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/068c83f9-c669-4f56-892f-4bd2cf87ba59.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A83%3A28]()
Ivey leads Kuath for slam! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PKSCq6WF3aY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69e6e6ed-58f5-4bad-90b5-617c403dfa80.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A214%3A202]()
Title here Kuath with the monster putback dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a376686c-52ff-475a-b074-f3b18970682a.jpg?crop=1347%3A758%3Anowe%3A0%3A136]()
Stove drains the buzzer-beater! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/bW7bdTbKZT4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d96808c4-44bb-4a5b-b6d1-8c45a0e74504.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8f36cac-ae3e-43e0-9546-de0f8cb80ddc.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Kuath skies for the alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4bae8368-f19f-4a65-a81d-2c8b7c66fa6f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A83%3A68]()
Barnett rises for the dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y9kg3RC5GC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/65946eaf-cdc9-4047-af56-58dd1be869f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A111]()
Kuath swats Hankins! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/agSlDjB_na0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c33effe-5e1f-4ef7-82ec-e378cc4584be.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A141%3A149]()
Reece with the alley-oop slam! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/-DYE7B6b7yM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Valencia Basket | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2838b1a8-7620-4acf-84e3-e1dbce6d071b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A103]()
Kuath punishes the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2eff2fd0-c524-4a54-8946-5f5356a38dec.jpg?crop=561%3A316%3Anowe%3A438%3A132]()
Turudic hammers it home! Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/04/XLmbajKfwMjopXfbGwKJdCdHhgtAWOxW-1733350763340.jpg]()
Kuath with the massive block on Nelson! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UuuwT3QFVM8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/46758356-bb54-4d0b-8ff3-9d2899c9788f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A144%3A100]()
Barnett takes off! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/-QGxm1bgDFo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/wymmQVO6BiPHnb3Cak94vyf6aUCitcxg-1731449782449.jpg]()
Hamburg monster alley-oop! | Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6ae65a8-6306-4a4c-9ee6-bc4a0da307ea.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/65946eaf-cdc9-4047-af56-58dd1be869f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A80%3A114]()
Kuath's big denial! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51354fc8-76cd-4eb7-9f2f-c0cba58cf5e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A103]()
Monster alley-oop from Hamburg! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/whJMXd7_Sts/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51354fc8-76cd-4eb7-9f2f-c0cba58cf5e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A141%3A107]()
Kuath's unique alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/29/QZcSHhyjqfd18Ru8saFrdgGqvXb8Z7ap-1730242540579.jpg]()
Kuath puts on a show! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/5xSLfevXOUI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Hamburg Towers-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/79bacce6-41d7-4846-861f-e7baaf9b00c4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A126]()
Ogbe’s no-look dish to Kuath! Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cf613784-87cc-4bf1-83e4-da8b30cb6238.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A99]()
Kuath puts on a show! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/72f2b185-13f0-4b1d-8fee-686f5c95f331.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9081cc82-ad99-4289-8b3c-fb760a507d9d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A30%3A68]()
Kuath throws down the alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 01:44
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/18/OGp9bjFBORmtiUluQzWPDGcaYghRPSbn-1729293457155.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'I try to take a little bit more responsibility'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40afb3f1-808c-42b2-be8f-1b0ff1b2cbec.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f6316417-8c54-4b84-abe7-ae53e898d99f.jpg?crop=847%3A476%3Anowe%3A284%3A84]()
Evan Fournier on the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f5640deb-bd28-4a67-a1cd-ba29e039d2b4.jpg?crop=848%3A476%3Anowe%3A265%3A52]()
Poirier’s power! Motorola Magic Moment
Neptunas fans had to be thinking not again while watching their heroes give up the lead to Hamburg. It was the same thing that happened in the team’s first home game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 1. Neptunas led by 16 points late in the first half but then gave up control and Cluj won the road game 102-107.
“The most important thing today was believing that we would not do the same as we did in the opening game in the EuroCup at home. Big, big congratulations for the guys. They really deserve this victory because it was a tough time. Not winning in EuroCup gets in your head and each game gets more tense. It was good to get this monkey off our back,” Petrauskas said.
“We were close in the Cluj game, we were close in the game in Poland (a 95-85 loss at Slask Wroclaw in Round 1). We had opportunities in those two games and it was painful to waste those opportunities. So we are really happy that we didn’t waste it today.”
Thanks in large part to that fourth quarter surge.