News
Article
Zalgiris returns to Munich for another big goal

Zalgiris returns to Munich for another big goal

Article

4 Mins read

Javier Gancedo

Senior Manager, editorial

Zalgiris returns to Munich for another big goal

It is the final date of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. For good or bad, its game tonight will go down in Zalgiris Kaunas history. It faces FC Bayern Munich at Audi Dome in the Bavarian capital, the city where Zalgiris lifted its only EuroLeague trophy back in 1999.

After last night's results, Zalgiris (18-15) has a chance to reach the playoffs with a win or be eliminated with a loss. Bayern (11-22) made it to the playoffs in each of the last two previous seasons, forcing a do-or-die Game 5 against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in 2021 and FC Barcelona in 2022. This time, Bayern is eliminated from the playoffs race but plays a critical role in its final picture.

Zalgiris earned its right to battle for a playoffs spot with three consecutive home wins against AS Monaco, Valencia Basket and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Zalgiris, however, has struggled on the road this season, and enters this game with a 5-11 record outside of Lithuania. At home, Zalgiris has been almost undestructible, winning 13 of its 17 showdowns at Zalgirio Arena, which is also the home of this season's Final Four.

Defense has been the biggest key for Zalgiris being so competitive at home. Head coach Kazys Maksvytis's team allows 82.1 points per game on the road, where opponents have hit 55.8% of their two-point shots and 37.6% from beyond the arc. At home, Zalgiris forces opponents to somewhat lower percentages (51.5% 2FG, 35.0% 3FG), thereby allowing a league-low 72.5 points per night in its own arena.

In Round 15, Zalgiris edged Bayern 73-67 at home behind a career night from Keenan Evans, who finished that game with 33 points and a PIR of 39. Two weeks later, Evans got severely injured and has been unavailable ever since. Augustine Rubit led Bayern with 17 points. Rubit, who was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP for January, is also out due to injury, so other players are meant to step up in Friday's game.

Since that Round 15 game, Zalgiris signed playmaker Isaiah Taylor and power forward Achille Polonara. Lukas Lekavicius will be available this time. Bayern will have six players who were not on the court for that game, when it played without Nick Weiler-Babb, Andreas Obst, Ognjen Jaramaz and two-time All-EuroLeague selection Vladimir Lucic. Since then, Bayern has signed D.J. Seeley and Zylan Cheatham.

Rubit is one of six players who have worn the jersey of both teams in the EuroLeague. Bayern forward Niels Giffey played for Zalgiris last season. The most notable name in the list is Vasilije Micic, who made his EuroLeague debut with Bayern in the 2014-15 season, helped Zalgiris reach the 2018 Final Four, and went on to be a superstar with Anadolu Efes Istanbul as back-to-back champion and Final Four MVP in 2021 and 2022. Deon Thompson, K.C. Rivers and Vladimir Stimac have also played for both teams in the past.

Zalgiris has won only once in its five previous trips to the Audi Dome, in the 2019-20 season. Zalgiris thrashed Bayern 73-98 with 19 points each from Arturas Milaknis and Zach LeDay.

However, that doesn't mean that Zalgiris doesn't have good memories from playing in Munich. More like the other way around. Zalgiris made it to the 1999 EuroLeague Final Four in the Bavarian capital, downing Olympiacos Piraeus 87-71 in the semifinal and beating Virtus Bologna 82-74 in the title game to lift the trophy at Olympiahalle. Tyus Edney was chosen the 1999 Final Four MVP and got plenty of help from Jiri Zidek, who will announce tonight's game on EuroLeagueTV.

Zalgiris's goal this time is different but very important: to survive what has arguably been the most competitive regular season of all time and keep fighting for EuroLeague glory in the playoffs!