Zalgiris Kaunas delivered one of the most significant road wins of the EuroLeague season Friday night, defeating first-place Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 92-82 at Ulker Sports and Event Hall.
The victory lifted Zalgiris to 20-14, strengthening its position in the playoff race and keeping the Lithuanian club within reach of potential home-court advantage. Fenerbahce fell to 23-11 and missed the opportunity to mathematically secure a postseason berth.
The game remained tight deep into the fourth quarter before Zalgiris’ perimeter shooting decided the outcome. The visitors erased a 78-78 tie with a decisive run fueled by long-range accuracy.
Zalgiris finished 13-of-21 from three-point range, a 61.9 percent mark that proved decisive in the closing minutes. The surge turned a balanced contest into a double-digit road win against the league leader.
Dustin Sleva led the charge for the Lithuanian side with a complete performance. The forward scored 18 points while shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, adding seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Sylvain Francisco orchestrated the offense throughout the night. The guard produced 14 points and eight assists while consistently creating scoring opportunities in half-court sets.
Balanced scoring helped Zalgiris maintain pressure on the defending champions. Arnas Butkevicius, Azuolas Tubelis and Nigel Williams-Goss each finished with 13 points.
Williams-Goss also contributed on the perimeter, hitting three of four three-point attempts. Butkevicius added eight rebounds, providing key defensive possessions during the decisive stretch.
Fenerbahce relied heavily on its backcourt production. Wade Baldwin IV scored 19 points and shot 7-of-9 from two-point range while adding four assists.
Talen Horton-Tucker followed with 18 points but struggled from outside. The guard finished 0-of-3 from three-point distance.
Despite shooting 57.5 percent on two-point attempts, the Turkish club could not match the visitors from long range. Fenerbahce converted just 7-of-22 three-point attempts, a 31.8 percent rate.
Zalgiris also controlled the glass, finishing with a 34-28 rebounding advantage. That edge helped generate second-chance opportunities and limit Fenerbahce’s transition offense.
The hosts opened the game with a 25-22 first-quarter lead and extended the margin early in the second. Zalgiris responded with a 27-point second quarter to take a narrow halftime advantage.
Both teams traded baskets throughout the third period before the game entered the fourth tied within a single possession. Zalgiris’ perimeter shooting then created the separation.
The result keeps Zalgiris firmly in the postseason conversation as the regular season enters its final stretch. The Lithuanian side currently sits sixth in the standings with several teams clustered behind.
Zalgiris will host FC Barcelona on April 2 in a matchup that could impact playoff positioning. Fenerbahce will travel to face FC Bayern Munich on April 1 as it looks to secure its postseason place.