Cedevita overpowers Lietkabelis, 78-88, in rescheduled Round 13 game

The result ended the hosts' playoff hopes and strengthened Cedevita’s grip on second place

Regular Season

Round 13 of 18

game Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys

Group B

16 January 2025, 17:30

Regular Season

16 January 2025, 17:30

Regular Season

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys

LIE

78

88

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

COL

Final Score

l

w

l

w

l

w

l

w

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana took control late in the third quarter and never let up to record a 78-88 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys at Kalnapilio Arena on Thursday night. Cedevita improved to 10-5, moved within a whisker of clinching a playoff berth and strengthened its grip on second place in Group B. Lietkabelis fell to 4-11 and saw its already slim playoff hopes come to an end.

The game was a rescheduled Round 13 fixture that was postponed due to the weather conditions, which resulted in widespread flight cancellations and made it impossible for Cedevita to reach Panevezys for the original date, on January 2, 2025. <br> Brynton Lemar led the Cedevita attack with 19 points, D.J. Stewart paired 15 points with 6 rebounds, Aleksej Nikolic tallied 14 points and 5 assists, Devin Robinson also scored 14 and <br> Devante Jones added 10 points. Dovis Bickauskas matched his career-high with 17 points and also dished 5 assists for Lietkabelis, Martynas Varnas scored 16 and Georgios Kalaitzakis added 15 in defeat.

Dorde Gagic scored the game’s first points for Lietkabelis from the foul line right after having his initial offering blocked by Joan Beringer. Nikolic netted Cedevita’s first basket with a floater and Lemar followed to give Cedevita the lead. Lietkabelis was held scoreless for 4 minutes as the margin stretched to 2-7, however baskets on back-to-back possessions tied it. Vytenis Lipkevicius came alive for the hosts, though Cedevita answered each time he scored and Robinson’s jumper made it 9-11. Paulius Danusevicius twice scored fastbreak layups that gave the hosts the lead and both times Lemar answered for Cedevita. A free throw by Kalaitzakis gave Lietkabelis an 18-16 edge after 10 minutes.

Bickauskas fired in a pull-up three to open the second quarter. Stewart replied with a three-point play and Beringer evened things at 21-21 with a slam. Bickauskas put Lietkabelis on top again with a triple, but Andrija Stipanovic took over with 4 straight points and Stewart scored in transition to cap a 3-13 run, which prompted a timeout taken Coach Nenad Cacak. Grantas Vasiliauskas ended the drought only to see Nikolic extend the lead to 26-34 with a three-pointer and a floater. A pair of threes by Varnas helped revive the home team’s attack bringing Lietkabelis within 34-38, but Robinson and Lemar kept Cedevita in control. After a timeout, Bickauskas made a scoop shot and Kalaitzakis, Bickauskas and Vasiliauskas added free throws to trim the deficit to 40-45 at the break.

Bickauskas and Nikolic traded threes for the first points of the second half. Kalaitzakis shined with a three-point play on the offensive glass and Bickauskas drained his fourth triple of the night to get Lietkabelis within 49-50. Robinson answered for Cedevita with a jumper only to see Varnas knock down a three that evened the score midway through the quarter. The teams traded points with the score being tied at 52-52, 54-54 and 56-56. Jones broke the trend with a layup and a triple that put the visitors up 57-63. Varnas threw down a remarkable reverse alley-oop slam, but Stwart and Blazic helped Cedevita to a 59-67 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Danusevicius swished a three and Bickauskas collected a steal as Lietkabelis looked to change the momentum, but Jones stole the ball right back and fed Stewart for a slam. Robinson buried a baseline jumper and scored on the break to give Cedevita its first double-digit lead, 63-73. Gagic fouled out and Stweart added to the visitors' lead. A three-pointer by Nikolic stretched the margin to 15 with less than 5 minutes remaining. Kalaitzakis three by Kalaitzakis elicited a cheer from the home crowd, but it would prove to be too little, too late. Lemar's next three made it 67-83 and Lietkabelis would not threaten again.