Lietkabelis vs. Žalgiris Kaunas – LKL Regular Season, May 28, 2026

Žalgiris Kaunas delivered a commanding performance on the road, cruising past Lietkabelis with a decisive 95–75 victory in the Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga (LKL) regular season. The match, played at the Cido Arena in Panevėžys on 28 May 2026, highlighted Žalgiris’s depth and efficiency, as they controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never allowed the home side to build momentum. The win further cemented Žalgiris’s position near the top of the LKL standings, while Lietkabelis was left searching for consistency heading into the final stretch of the season.

Match Overview

From the first quarter, Žalgiris established a double-digit lead, capitalizing on strong interior scoring and precise three-point shooting. The visitors shot 52% from the field and converted 12 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc. Lietkabelis struggled to contain Žalgiris’s ball movement, which generated 22 assists against only 8 turnovers. The home team fought back in the third period, cutting the deficit to single digits, but Žalgiris responded with an 8–0 run to close the quarter and regained full control. The final period was largely academic, with Žalgiris’s bench players maintaining the margin.

Key Moments

• First-quarter dominance: Žalgiris opened with a 28–16 run, fueled by quick transition baskets and three early triples from Laurynas Birutis.
• Lietkabelis's third-quarter surge: A 12–2 spurt, led by guard Paulius Valinskas, brought the hosts within six points (65–59) with 4:30 left in the third.
• Žalgiris's answer: A three-pointer from Tomas Dimša and a steal-and-dunk from Marius Grigonis stretched the lead back to 13, silencing the home crowd.
• Bench contribution: Žalgiris’s reserves outscored Lietkabelis’s second unit 34–18, a decisive factor in the final scoreline.

Standout Players

For Žalgiris, center Laurynas Birutis was dominant inside, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Tomas Dimša added 18 points and 6 assists. Lietkabelis was led by Paulius Valinskas, who poured in 20 points and dished out 5 assists, but lacked sufficient support from the frontcourt. The home team’s top rebounder, Martynas Echodas, managed only 7 boards, well below his season average.

Standings and Season Impact

With the win, Žalgiris improved to 28–4 on the season, maintaining a two-game lead over Rytas Vilnius atop the LKL table. The result also extended Žalgiris’s winning streak to seven games. Lietkabelis fell to 18–14, remaining in fifth place, but now facing a tighter race with Juventus and Neptūnas for playoff seeding. The loss highlighted ongoing defensive issues that have plagued the team during the second half of the campaign.

Upcoming Fixtures

Žalgiris returns to Kaunas to host Šiauliai on 31 May, while Lietkabelis will travel to Klaipėda to face Neptūnas in a crucial match for fourth place. Both teams will look to fine-tune their rotations before the LKL playoffs begin in mid-June.