Wolves Twinsbet (20-8) picked up another lopsided win in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) and demolished BC Šiauliai (7-21) in their road game last Saturday, 91:65 (25:26, 28:13, 21:13, 17:13).
The men of Šiauliai are already out of the playoff picture, while BC Neptunas of Klaipėda and 7bet-Lietkabelis of Panevezys still have remote possibilities to make the postseason. Meanwhile, the Vilnius-based club has established itself in third place and will face Klaipėda’s team and the league-leading BC Žalgiris of Kaunas for its last two regular season matches. The Wolves’ recent victory against BC Šiauliai is their fifth in a row.
The hosts started strong early in the match and took a quick 21-9 lead. Wolves Twinsbet responded to the challenge and began to chip away at the deficit to keep it close to 23:26. This prompted BC Šiauliai Head Coach Žydrūnas Urbonas to call for a timeout to regroup. Wolves’ center Christian Mekowulu scored immediately after the dead ball situation to reduce the difference further (25:26) as the first quarter of play ended.
It took some time for Wolves Twinsbet to grab the lead, but the men of Vilnius persisted with Garrison Brooks scoring to tie the game (32:32) and by the middle of the second quarter they were already able to wrestle the advantage. Vaidas Kariniauskas, Eigirdas Žukauskas, and Arnas Beručka each scored to pull ahead 43:37, and Rasheed Sulaimon then added to the offensive burst to make it 46:37. Finally after the first half, Vilnius had a significant gap over Šiauliai – 53:39.
The Wolves continued their dominance in the third quarter (59:42) and took complete control by then. The men of Šiauliai attempted to fight back, but the score difference was just too overwhelming for the hosts (52:72), and the last quarter was more of a formality.
Although Wolves Twinsbet relaxed for a bit and did not score for two and a half minutes (75:56), Šiauliai was not able to capitalize and the remaining minutes of play already spelt victory for the visitors from Vilnius.
Wolves Twinsbet played without Vitalijus Kozis and Artūrs Žagars who were both recovering from minor injuries.
Wolves Twinsbet: Rasheed Sulaimon 24 (7 rebounds, 5/8 3pt FG), Tre’Shawn Thurman 14, Eigirdas Žukauskas 12 (7 rebounds, 4/9 3pt FG), Christian Mekowulu 11, Vaidas Kariniauskas 9, Regimantas Miniotas (11 rebounds) and Arnas Beručka 6 each, Garrison Brooks 5, Kristupas Žemaitis 4. Jeffery Taylor did not play.
BC Šiauliai: Leonard Thorpe and Shaquille Keith – 13 each, Tomas Pavelka 12.
