This season's precedents: Barcelona vs. Zalgiris

Do you like your playoff series with a little bit of extra spice? Well then welcome to FC Barcelona versus Zalgiris Kaunas. This series has plenty of extras to go alongside the main dish of two great basketball teams. Care to view it as David vs. Goliath? Sure, there's that angle. What about Zalgiris's chance to join the exclusive list of teams to qualify for Final Fours on their home courts? And, of course, there is Kaunas's favorite son and one of Lithuania's best young players, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Rokas Jokubaitis, respectively, leading Barcelona against their former team, which features forward Rolands Smits, who helped Barcelona reach the last two Final Fours. Although Barcelona has won 80% of their games over the last two decades, Zalgiris has taken two of the last three – both in Kaunas. Here's a look at their two meetings earlier this season.

FC Barcelona and Zalgiris Kaunas face in a classic EuroLeague matchup. They have played each other 33 times since 2000, with the Catalan team leading for now, 26-7.
Veteran big man Jan Vesely won the EuroLeague in 2017 with Fenerbahce and will hope to lift the trophy one more time with Barcelona this season.
Arnas Butkevicius has scored 11 points against Barcelona in two games this season.
Cory Higgins has scored 13 points against Zalgiris combining both regular season games.
Zalgiris captain Edgaras Ulanovas averages 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists this season.
Ignas Brazdeikis will be playing his first playoff series in his EuroLeague debut season.
Nico Laprovittola has averaged 42.3% shooting from beyond the arc for Barcelona this season.
Arnas Butkevicius is playing his second EuroLeague season, and first with Zalgiris. he made his debut in 2014 with Neptunas Klaipeda.
Tomas Satoransky is in his third EuroLeague season. He played two with Barcelona from 2014 to 2016 and he returned to lead his team to another playoffs appearance.
Tomas Dimsa is in his third EuroLeague season with Zalgiris. He has scored 7 points against Barcelona this season.
Alex Abrines is in his eighth season with Barcelona in the EuroLeague. Against Zalgiris this season he has scored a total 7 points before this series.

In a Round 4 thriller at Zalgirio Arena that saw seven lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, Zalgiris edged Barcelona 73-72. The hosts led by as many as 11 in the third quarter before Cory Higgins came alive with 8 points in a 0-10 Barca run late in the third quarter to lead 50-51. It would be close the rest of the way. Arnas Butkevicius's triple in the final minute gave Zalgiris the lead for good and Edgaras Ulanovas's defense denied Tomas Satoransky a chance to get off a game-winner at the buzzer. Keenan Evans paced the winners with 18 points and Smits and Ulanovas netted 15 apiece. Jan Vesely paced Barcelona with 12.

These teams last met in Round 26 at Palau Blaugrana where Barcelona romped to a 93-74 victory. A Nikola Mirotic triple to end the first quarter game Barca the lead for good, 19-17. Alex Abrines added a three to open the second quarter and the rout was on. The margin reached double figures by halftime and Barcelona blew the game open with a 31-18 third quarter. Mirotic dominated with 28 points and Satoransky tallied 12 points and 5 assists. Ignas Bradzeikis was Zalgiris's top scorer with 15.