The visitors enjoyed a fantastic performance by Sylvain Francisco who was lethal from long range
Zalgiris springs upset to beat Crvena Zvezda, 80-86
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 27 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Zalgiris Kaunas rekindled its hopes of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague postseason after earning a thoroughly deserved 80-86 road win at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, improving to 13-14 while the home team dropped to 16-11.
Sylvain Francisco served up a masterclass as he sank a game-high 25 points, shooting 6-of-9 from downtown, while Alen Smailagic chipped in with 15 and Deividas Sirvydis added 12 for the Lithuanian outfit.
At the other end, Filip Petrusev paced Zvezda with 16 points but 10 of them came in the first quarter, after which Zalgiris did a grand job containing the Serbian side’s clutch player. Nemanja Nedovic netted 14 points for the hosts, Joel Bolomboy scored 12 and Codi Miller-McIntyre added 11.
Game Videos
- 00:59
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/27/BB5Pmh1HLORXCyHVCm6XXUn8OcMxhxMw-1740694559595.jpg]()
Alain Smailagic: 'We did everything that needed to be done to win'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3c5e7350-5e5b-4f28-952d-efcc090d35de.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f4e873b6-a151-44b9-a4c9-2e51ed46cc45.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A122%3A70]()
Kalinic with the slam-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/73a3b877-70b5-4da0-93b3-de41260e63d6.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A145%3A75]()
Bolomboy on the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0B97NY-VMVk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast guides you through unlimited trades
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d676b59-744d-48dc-ae71-0e096b42e7a8.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends returns with Rokas Jokubaitis as guest
- 02:05
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/06/F8bKwIezvJbQDaXTwJZAcq0UgJXNFWTG-1738875332164.jpg]()
Joel Bolomboy: 'It took a team effort'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3a8e3cb-053b-44de-9a2d-39c692a5bb69.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3470684f-50fe-4d66-bbbf-dd11119c7cdc.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6b5c252c-9786-4617-9a18-c7bb7788b3fe.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A86%3A48]()
Walker’s circus bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:10
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/04/rR19hOVS3TKSNWvpxzNKQOZj6EjAS8Q1-1738704589127.jpg]()
Isaiah Canaan: 'Tonight was a team victory'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7e66cafc-6ccd-4ddb-8e11-9ab9c8fcdb8d.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:42
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/04/zqdcXhxP94bn1s1NrWKgzKmZLx8JaYOb-1738702991317.jpg]()
Bryant Dunston: 'Our defense has to be what we hold our hat on'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/37195cde-0beb-4439-a38c-3b16904a0455.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3e4793d7-c4cc-415b-b160-5105d8b1f633.jpg?crop=1225%3A689%3Anowe%3A34%3A59]()
Bolomboy’s hustle pays dividends! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/330affeb-f5a7-4c6d-afe6-2ccfd653398b.jpg?crop=1333%3A749%3Anowe%3A0%3A65]()
Dunston with a one-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/31/qwj65skfaSDUQDCSPrjGSI2sPwd7ujKt-1738365193075.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'We came for the win, we came to look good, and that's what we did'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nry4nCjMskQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4c9fb3e6-76fd-41c0-8a90-cc1e41d547e9.jpg?crop=1200%3A674%3Anowe%3A62%3A29]()
Bolomboy with the big rejection! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/15a9e44c-9bae-495b-9b0a-a05940940ca3.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A0%3A122]()
Brown’s behind-the-back pass! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/n69KDNToJ7w/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/52ec91fa-74c0-499f-b2b0-2bfc268d6de4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A201%3A94]()
Birutis with the big slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f7be3dc3-a477-4b45-8135-50b5160d96d2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Sirvydis’s chase-back block on Obst! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3f736973-4994-47c0-9797-858f6e0a2b0c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A38%3A9]()
Round 24 video preview: Everything you need to know about this week's key games
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qKOvmrck498/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 23 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/iwIr28zeA8Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 23 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d28c508d-7f42-41a0-a087-df55f513154d.jpg?crop=1230%3A692%3Anowe%3A0%3A62]()
Petrusev turns around and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8fcb4970-fc4f-437b-8efc-8ee08d82772b.jpg?crop=1276%3A718%3Anowe%3A37%3A36]()
Francisco and Birutis light it up! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3d36482a-eae2-41ff-ac8e-04f91d1d4901.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends Episode 13: It's an Italian thing!
- 01:00
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/18/YQUYkkL9PWHp3VIgMH4nPY9rfMHHZDbV-1737163097090.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'I didn't know I liked playing against Monaco this much'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/8MpYDwK8stA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-AS Monaco | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/irJYaVXjUhw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b86db48f-7b61-4201-a524-32d9b1cda12b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A0%3A28]()
Canaan does it all himself! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:29
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9ba88a30-a74f-47fb-965b-b9914f63a093.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A12]()
Francisco beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0HL4o4KSspo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 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
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b07b7062-578a-45dd-a9cf-a55120ae6bcf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A102%3A122]()
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
- 01:04
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/10/JC34xLT7Kf7PSHayqXO3hc5euw6aVEiz-1736546557952.jpg]()
Joel Bolomboy: 'This win took everybody'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/slHz0j0Lueo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Paris Basketball | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/10/1S79MK4nFo4tP3eMbFCljRugzWPgfTzu-1736546752368.jpg]()
Big dunk from Davidovac! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/W6VLMl5LSsc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Real Madrid | 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
![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
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9300acdf-22a1-4517-b2e9-38626d352152.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A56%3A22]()
Lonnie Walker responds to EuroLeague fans in ‘Everybody Loves Lonnie’
- 00:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/02/GNPycHSn2Q85cQKqn01URAKcycGqI0vj-1735855834064.jpg]()
Isaiah Canaan: 'We can play with the best of them'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/p9dJG5CrrMw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/02/AROcrASF3nSzLzMLiqkiyyF3Hm6uDRXQ-1735856110820.jpg]()
Canaan wins it! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb530453-48a4-45b3-935d-cf4daef35da7.jpg?crop=3969%3A2233%3Anowe%3A186%3A100]()
Bolomboy and Miller-McIntyre at it again! Motorola Magic Moment
Zalgiris swung the contest its way late in the third quarter when it carved out a 56-64 lead and never looked back, with the game being a rollercoaster up to that point as the lead changed hands time and again in the cauldron of the Belgrade Arena.
Carried by fervent home crowd support, Zvezda overcame a slow start and managed to stay in touch thanks to the versatile Petrusev and Bolomboy, whose power in the paint compensated for 6 turnovers in the first quarter.
Zalgiris was effervescent from long range in the opening half as the visiting team sank 7 of 11 from deep, with Francisco netting 12 points and the fired-up Smailagic adding 10. Smailagic drew offensive energy from his personal rivalry with Zvezda as a longtime former player of archrival Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.
The big man was flawless from the floor as he was 6 of 6, sinking 3 three-pointers and as many shots from inside.
A 2-9 run late in the third quarter allowed Zalgiris to pull away and having led 60-67 ahead of the final 10 minutes, the Lithuanian team stayed in control as Francisco hit one clutch shot after another to keep Zvezda at bay.
A four-point play from Nedovic gave Zvezda a glimmer of hope as the home team slashed the deficit to 70-75 in the home stretch, but Zalgiris held firm to grind out a precious win keeping the Lithuanian champion in contention for a postseason berth.
