Zalgiris bounced back in Round 14 by downing Anadolu Efes at home with big contributions coming from its guards
Zalgiris's backcourt exceled against Efes
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 14 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Zalgiris Kaunas used an outstanding first half to get a solid lead and held on to it for the rest of the game, leading from start to finish to claim an 85-72 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Things could not have started better for Zalgiris, as Deividas Sirvydis completed a four-point play in his team's very first possession, barely 11 seconds into the game.
Lonnie Walker took over after that with three consecutive bombs from downtown and an assist to Sirvydis for a layup. When Sirvydis hit another triple, Zalgiris already had a double-digit lead, 18-8, with all its points coming from its backcourt starts. Walker and Sirvydis ended up combining for the team's opening 23 points, helping Zalgiris to a 27-17 lead after 10 minutes.
Walker and Sirvydis went to the bench and Zalgiris kept running its offense the same way, finding new go-to guys in guards Dovydas Giedraitis and Sylvain Francisco. Both players had 7 quick points as Zalgiris broke the game open, 41-49, midway through the second quarter.
Efes never rallied within striking distance but managed to get as close as 69-63 with less than 6 minutes remaining. With the game on the line, Francisco made the difference with 9 points in the final 5 minutes, including a three-pointer that sealed the outcome, 80-69, in the next-to-last minute.
When the dust settled, Walker led the way with 18 points - 13 of them in a really strong first quarter. Francisco added 16 and Sirvydis 14. Giedraitis had an all-around performance with 4 points, a team-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Zalgiris showed great hustle, finishing the game with 17 offensive rebounds, 7 steals and 4 blocks. Efes had had 4 blocks, but was limited to 11 offensive boards and 4 steals.
After the game, Walker praised Francisco for his clutch performance.
"I'm just playing the right way. Cisco [Sylvain Francisco] stepped up and did what he is supposed to: carry the ball, made the right reads, was scoring, passing and doing everything;" Walker said after the game. "And our defensive effort really led our team to victory. I think they got it down to about 6 points and my teammates picked us up the last 3-4 minutes. We handled business and did what we were supposed to do."
Game Videos
- 01:44
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/15/oA5ni2hhFjfUX24pQhQXc4HhLfuuLvlZ-1736979506682.jpg]()
Sylvain Francisco: 'We fixed what we're supposed to do'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WKlEGDGTAk0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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Butkevicius does it at both ends! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e93d6651-b591-4b2c-af6e-9b69106926ed.jpg?crop=612%3A344%3Anowe%3A520%3A168]()
Butkevicius shows his range! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/816b96aa-d970-4d15-ac23-00a59acf9c1c.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/49da6b4a-501a-4286-bb8a-40f12e1f78dc.jpg?crop=1272%3A716%3Anowe%3A39%3A38]()
Nwora gets across for the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/179bb012-8d05-4ef2-a6b7-4f0404fa7c4f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A126%3A27]()
Poirier with the big slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/W6VLMl5LSsc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Real Madrid | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WOqF4A68cjY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6875c309-9b37-4866-b91a-5a1e7ea020cd.jpg?crop=806%3A454%3Anowe%3A209%3A81]()
Smailagic's put-back dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ba64ce2f-eb08-4b6c-887f-31092bdf77dc.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A247%3A68]()
Poirier’s milestone block leads to fast-break dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8d60cc90-b061-4bb2-8e5a-abda058af8c1.jpg?crop=1182%3A665%3Anowe%3A84%3A89]()
Smits feeds dunkin’ Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/982b5028-6056-4fc6-9fa3-97232885268c.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast gang debates new topics in episode No. 15
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Lonnie Walker responds to EuroLeague fans in ‘Everybody Loves Lonnie’
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/vBndjSZe4aI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b080b108-5916-49a9-a2ae-9cb10aff0b44.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A123%3A76]()
Johnson stops Biberovic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1e1ff8af-8136-40d2-8d77-529229d7328e.jpg?crop=1240%3A697%3Anowe%3A27%3A70]()
Osmani's fastbreak slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/mIxfpti_duo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:36
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Poirier’s poster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/48467a4d-aed6-4609-acdb-bbbf1357a8b8.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6875c309-9b37-4866-b91a-5a1e7ea020cd.jpg?crop=923%3A520%3Anowe%3A123%3A30]()
Smailagic takes off! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3b9e0558-2446-4d00-a149-76433be6d486.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A109%3A46]()
Thompson feeds Oturu! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bc8882ff-a50a-4896-99e8-4b4a36c83544.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:43
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/20/vxushlVsIge9Pc94qvC66drUYE2S82G5-1734725363705.jpg]()
Ercan Osmani: 'Coach Mijatovic believes in me'
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6875c309-9b37-4866-b91a-5a1e7ea020cd.jpg?crop=757%3A426%3Anowe%3A230%3A91]()
Smailagic with a big two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2f789458-60a5-4946-9981-3154d4f02d57.jpg?crop=806%3A453%3Anowe%3A320%3A65]()
Dunston's big swat! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/94d287fe-1d37-4762-9aae-e2a0a3d32bbe.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A90%3A65]()
Nwora stops Bonga! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/edb45823-b6bb-4118-95eb-ec2e10da6802.jpg?crop=1258%3A707%3Anowe%3A46%3A47]()
Osmani's huge dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/26ad76c6-2cee-4f3d-8f30-db153cbcd08b.jpg?crop=886%3A498%3Anowe%3A214%3A47]()
Efes turns defense into offense! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/fT9j4iI9Nv4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:21
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/18/ML20akc3vtPIkCp4M56Df3LfVIxhRrYI-1734557613341.jpg]()
Larkin and Poirier light it up! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d822280a-098b-44b9-b667-525602edf3bc.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A103%3A60]()
Kabengele explodes to the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f249f449-fa7b-4439-b387-1fbcb9943c35.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A24]()
Parks rises for a put-back slam! Magic Moment
- 00:36
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/08f66a7a-e67e-4697-a293-912167e07be0.jpg?crop=1261%3A709%3Anowe%3A24%3A89]()
Courby goes from defense to offense! Magic Moment
- 01:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/18/sttCfQtyleWBeZTOI8Wpemow8a5GNWmi-1734559270171.jpg]()
Dan Oturu: 'I'm thankful to be on a team like this'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/cY9Spu0NvE8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/08f50204-31da-4227-966d-e88c93cd0cc0.jpg?crop=1211%3A681%3Anowe%3A77%3A36]()
Pansa dunks off Castaneda’s alley-oop pass! Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/plgEdeiuLUVXVZ17ZgeXQyyIdgZCpuFJ-1734476988737.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'When we're locked in on defense, I don't think there's anyone who can beat us'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d76b904a-40bf-4403-a9c1-b45d034e657e.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/J2HZT8BQZYUk1gWfEesF2SYIqMUDXPFm-1734476734149.jpg]()
Birutis skies for the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/zLY71NqDJGHSBQRx4f5bngpjT8psfu5C-1734119154037.jpg]()
Rodrigue Beaubois: 'When we play like this, we're very difficult to beat'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/66cd8665-3775-41cf-b901-f70822433973.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:31
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a969d3d4-8ae1-426d-bbc4-8dc5e76bef91.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A47%3A44]()
Oturu dunks over Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8d60cc90-b061-4bb2-8e5a-abda058af8c1.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A116]()
Poirier posterizes two defenders! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/888bbe89-53c1-48f5-b6b7-1ce84fd820fe.jpg?crop=969%3A544%3Anowe%3A331%3A62]()
Thompson's half-ending block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/12/WE6BQO19exI6VKKUVImiR7Y5svex7y3O-1734043574146.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'It was a collective win'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cb51b927-3088-4142-8b2c-91cf3d68fe39.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3652c392-64f1-4722-adf5-dad9b666e1fe.jpg?crop=1328%3A747%3Anowe%3A0%3A14]()
Smailagic puts it back! Motorola Magic Moment
"Lonnie [Walker] had a great first half, amazing, and he couldn't find his groove and his rhythm in the second half, they started being very physical and we need to find a way to play old school basketball fundamentals, how to get open. This is a learning lesson for him," Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri said. "Cisco gave us a lot, Alen [Smailagic] gave us a lot as a facilitator from the post, and we controlled their comeback. They had a very good team, a lot of talent, so it's a great win."