Žalgiris Kaunas saw off Šiauliai 101:82 in the Lithuanian Basketball League on Saturday evening. The hosts confirmed their position at the summit of the table, while the visitors remain well adrift in fourth place after 32 games.
And here's the thing about this result — Žalgiris had already looked sharp in their last outing, beating Crvena Zvezda 83:77 on Wednesday. Šiauliai had found no answer to Žalgirdai's rhythm, and by then it was clear the visitors were short of ideas. The home side turned it on early and never let up.
Statistically the game told its own story. Žalgiris hit 18 three-pointers from 33 attempts compared to Šiauliai's 11 from 29. Both teams grabbed 27 rebounds, but the visitors committed 23 personal fouls to the hosts' 15. The extra shooting accuracy and fewer mistakes added up to a comfortable margin.
To be fair, Šiauliai had shown they could compete — their win against Lielkabulis Panevezys on Wednesday suggested a team finding its feet. But against Žalgiris, the gaps were too wide. The visitors' 17 wins from 32 games leave them with a long way to go if they want to close the gap.
We had backed the hosts at 68 per cent confidence, and the performance justified that call. Žalgiris have now lost just one game all season, and the goal difference of 19 points confirms they are in control of the tie. Šiauliai sit 15 points behind with a game in hand, but the ceiling feels fixed.
The result extends Žalgiris's momentum into a new phase of the campaign. Three straight victories over different opponents — Crvena Zvezda, Neptūnas, and now Šiauliai — suggest a team peaking at the right moment. The league may be wide open, but the leaders are making it harder for everyone else.
