The old adage states “happiness breeds success” and the big smile on Joffrey Lauvergne’s face was clear as day - also that it helped Zalgiris Kaunas get an 83-96 road victory over Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in Tuesday's Round 18 makeup game.
Healthy Lauvergne has Zalgiris rolling
Lauvergne couldn’t help but crack a smile early in the second quarter when he collected a pass from veteran big man Paulius Jankunas and threw it down for a 22-point lead. The French international center showed at OAKA that he is really back as he collected 17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block for an index rating of 22. The points, rebounds and PIR were all season highs for the 30-year-old.
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Lauvergne played the first two games of the season and then went down with a shoulder injury. The 2013-14 EuroLeague leading rebounder did not return to the court until February 1. The stats from his last three games are 13 points, 2 rebounds, 17 PIR; 10 points, 6 rebounds, 14 PIR; and the 17, 12 and 22 against Panathinaikos. What about Zalgiris’s record over that stretch? 3-0, including its only two road wins of the season.
Don’t forget, Lauvergne is a big man who came into the season having won five league crowns in his career and six cup trophies at the club level - not to mention gold and bronze with the French national team at EuroBasket 2013 and 2015, respectively, and bronze at the 2014 Basketball World Cup.
After missing nearly four full months and watching from the sidelines as the team slumped to a 3-17 record, it really shouldn’t be surprising that Lauvergne was smiling as he was playing so well. And that happiness has bred success for Zalgiris.