Several players stepped up during the game to round out a near-perfect performance
Zalgiris's depth powered road win in Madrid
Article
3 Mins read
Zalgiris Kaunas recorded its ninth win in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season by downing Real Madrid 83-92 at WiZink Center. Finding different go-to guys at different times did the trick for Coach Andrea Trinchieri and his team.
All eyes were set on Lonnie Walker at the start of the game and he didn't disappoint, scoring 10 points in the opening 8 minutes to lead his team to a 15-16 edge. Brady Manek and Matt Mitchell provided the fireworks from downtown to give Zalgiris a 19-24 lead after 10 minutes. Far from being done, Walker kept scoring, reaching 21 points in the 18th minute. Once Walker cooled off, Sylvain Francisco and Deividas Sirvydis stepped up to boost the visitors' margin to 38-54 at halftime.
Zalgiris tied a club record with 10 three-pointers in the first half. It had hit 10 three-pointers in a first half once before, in a 96-91 road loss against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the 2019-20 season. Mitchell had made just 2 of 24 three-pointers before this game and buried his only attempt from beyond the arc on this night.
"We started off great in the first half. I came out hot playing my game and in the second half it was a collective win. Obviously they were going to be more aggressive, being more physical on me," Walker said after the game. "And my teammates kind of picked me up. Alen [Smailagic], Iggy [Ignas Brazdeikis], even Brady [Manek] were shooting the ball really, really well today. So it was a collective team win. We didn't waver."
Real returned to the floor with one goal in mind: stopping Walker. It worked, as he was scoreless the rest of the way. That's when Zalgiris found other resources in offense to keep a safe lead all the way until the final buzzer. After not scoring in the first half, Ignas Brazdeikis had 10 points after the break. Alen Smailagic had 8 of his 13 points in the second half. With a balanced offense, Zalgiris did not find much trouble to control the game the rest of the way.
"I'm exhausted right now because in the second half, they were really going on us," Francisco said after the game. "It's just amazing. I'm really happy for the guys because everybody really stepped up and executed pretty well."
Three-pointers ended up making the difference in the game. Zalgiris buried 15 of 29 attempts from downtown (51.7% 3FG) and Real made just 8 of 26 three-pointers (30.8%). Real had more rebounds, assists and almost matched Zalgiris's team PIR, 88-89, but Zalgiris's outstanding depth made the difference on the court.
"We work well during the few practices we have and this is a very good win for us. Coming here and playing like this the whole game, and I would say controlling the game emotionally, playing with the three-point shot because of course it's difficult for us to go in the paint," head coach Andrea Trinchieri said after the game. "We played a great game. I'm very happy for my players."
Game Videos
![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
- 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
- 01:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/19/CI6ZDdHArHIVDGC6TCEuU9gnJu2V8rwY-1734646621376.jpg]()
Dzanan Musa: 'We are one of the top three teams in the EuroLeague'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b871ca12-2711-45b0-b272-090fb02dc562.jpg]()
Real Madrid-AS Monaco | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/19/vrMxAyS71XMhxCEqjfU0exuhtDi8i609-1734646108037.jpg]()
Campazzo's magic pass! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f3c82bde-5993-418e-b6f3-8251411fead6.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A152]()
Campazzo's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/90fdd336-9254-4d84-a88e-af34fbdeb9b5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A53]()
Garuba stops James! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:15
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/gzfqq32G19ojtbFBDqA2Cf4AJgz7tKCr-1734477303484.jpg]()
Walter Tavares: 'For me, Paris is the best team in the league right now'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31d2f38e-82c2-406d-9ee8-b84c3f9bb801.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Real Madrid | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 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
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4591db20-39e6-4fc2-9e70-2957477f030e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A94%3A33]()
Tavares rejects Hayes! 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
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4591db20-39e6-4fc2-9e70-2957477f030e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A38]()
Tavares's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 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
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88abae27-2c2c-4415-aa7d-33c3305a3253.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A103]()
Birutis's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2e402ee9-b80f-4c6b-aa5c-bcb91474e254.jpg?crop=4000%3A2250%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Bonzie Colson brings his skills to the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/VmMh4X0ihEo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EuroLeague & Friends: Spanoulis's start, the play of Maledon and Shorts...
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UI1w0QJJA8QkTKvwfuY1Ox1ZNVeS9zs6-1733441184985.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'Our defensive effort led our team'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56086f0e-5438-4076-a0b9-096cfdfc1188.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/h5N7RnfvbPHAzrzMehVRd3fQdAEJxgSu-1733436269493.jpg]()
FANS go CRAZY for this dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0ff530da-db2f-4dea-b72e-3f1aeb202f4f.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6abb4ce1-1563-438c-80be-9de8afc02eb6.jpg?crop=1334%3A750%3Anowe%3A8%3A33]()
Smailagic's put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88abae27-2c2c-4415-aa7d-33c3305a3253.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A85]()
Birutis throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0adea31c-c01b-40d8-bb0d-8fe9a50d57e1.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A57%3A59]()
Smailagic's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dfca9c9-6a24-41d8-84bc-974fffe64c54.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/E8gQK5Aon-s/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Real Madrid | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef99140b-f57b-4476-9e4b-577caca66d44.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A228]()
Gabriel Deck with a fine dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbb07da4-47ee-4be4-afa1-0475e093ac96.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Real Madrid | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d43e7ffa-6a22-4c92-8c33-9dba3f8bfdff.jpg?crop=1150%3A647%3Anowe%3A138%3A82]()
Tavares blocks with authority! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/acf76a16-eb28-4607-b086-00fe38095831.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A100%3A62]()
Hezonja with the up and under! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/14e84602-4514-48db-9271-e9531900558a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A144%3A76]()
Campazzo magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/VFoyDhGC1NUeT53Nul9O5ICBYPeM6R2z-1732310134528.jpg]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GZzt0du0g6A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/AbDlhRWgrfgb0AD6HTcm1Yt3P7lKg57J-1732307196906.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: ‘I love the team, I love the organization’
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/93468087-bce0-4611-a5fb-27e37ef6805c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A123]()
Francisco hustles back for the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/355e7bd7-410c-46ca-afa6-459d66d5f51c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A94]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:07
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/4x4ZMJD3kGTTfrJkScIZoCiByqzaZA1y-1732230979539.jpg]()
Facu Campazzo: 'When we play good defense, on offense we are really good'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/61_c3OfBC74/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/s-yVNftwng0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/v2UN5hWpeio/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e1f211cb-36be-4c8d-8a31-94fe30fb058b.jpg?crop=635%3A357%3Anowe%3A326%3A72]()
Hezonja dunks over the entire defense! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86b0777d-c4eb-47a5-8f92-55f2634799e5.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/YGqamKGqOJ1CZyARgCi40atgCbx6ADwD-1731450518806.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'We started to take care of business'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSNxEq5naNc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6019cfa-5fb5-4733-8e69-909122e68393.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A109%3A32]()
Tavares says no! Motorola Magic Moment
