Valencia Basket Defeats Žalgiris Kaunas in Thrilling EuroLeague Match

Valencia Basket secured a hard-fought 91-87 victory over Žalgiris Kaunas in a EuroLeague Round 30 game on March 5, 2026. The game, marked by dramatic swings and a late rally from Žalgiris, ultimately saw Valencia clinch their 20th win of the season, a new club record in the EuroLeague.

First Half Domination by Valencia

Valencia established a strong lead early in the game, utilizing quick attacks led by Omari Moore. Moore’s drives consistently broke down Žalgiris’ defense, allowing Valencia to build a double-digit advantage in the first half. Despite a brief resurgence from Žalgiris in the second quarter, sparked by Nigel Williams-Goss, Moses Wright, and Dustin Sleva, Valencia maintained control, leading 50-39 at halftime.

Key Players Struggle Early

Žalgiris’ key players, Sylvain Francisco and Đžuolas Tubelis, experienced a slow start, scoring only a combined 5 points in the first two quarters. Both players had recently represented their national team in the FIBA window, potentially contributing to their initial struggles.

Žalgiris Mounts a Comeback

After halftime, Žalgiris demonstrated improved play, with Maodos Lo and Igno Brazdeikis leading a 10-0 run that narrowed the gap. However, the comeback was significantly hampered by an injury to Đžuolas Tubelis, who sprained his ankle after stepping on a referee’s leg and was forced to leave the game with assistance from teammates. Žalgiris was already without Laurynas Birutis due to knee pain prior to the game.

Dramatic Finish and Valencia’s Victory

Despite losing Tubelis, Žalgiris fought back to tie the game at 87-87 after a three-pointer from Sylvain Francisco in the final minute. However, Branco Badio secured the win for Valencia with a crucial shot, and Jean Montero’s free throws sealed the 91-87 victory.

Post-Game Reactions

Žalgiris head coach Tomas Masiulis acknowledged Valencia’s deserved win, stating, “We didn’t play well in the first half, the second half was much better. However, too many mistakes were made in defense.” Omari Moore, the top scorer for Valencia with 16 points, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, saying, “Zalgiris has a great team and one of the main contenders to win the MVP award of the season. I think we did a great job, we were focused for the whole 40 minutes, even when Žalgiris was rushing.”

Looking Ahead

Valencia manager Pedro Martinez emphasized the difficulty of the match and the team’s resilience, stating, “It was a very difficult match. Žalgiris came back and tied the score after Francisco’s three-pointer. It was a very difficult moment psychologically, but we showed character.” Valencia will prepare for their next game on Sunday, while Žalgiris will look to recover from the loss.

Source: EuroLeague, Sofascore, rodo.lt