Match Preview
Barcelona have a better record than Zalgiris at the moment, but their recent performances have been quite underwhelming, especially a 100-94 loss to Murcia last weekend. Can the Lithuanian champions put an end to their EuroLeague losing run on Friday?
Barcelona Looking to Regain Momentum
The start of the new EuroLeague season has been good for Barcelona, entering this fourth round with two victories and one defeat.
They outplayed Anadolu Efes 89-82 at home in the first round after a big comeback in the final quarter. Dario Brizuela landed clutch three-pointers here, while also being the top scorer with 20 points, followed by Kevin Punter, who added 19 points to his name.
Punter delivered 25 points in the third round against Dubai, but Barca lost this clash in the UAE 94-87. They responded well to this defeat, though, delivering their best performance yet last Friday against Besiktas, winning 95-82 in Istanbul.
Zalgiris Struggling in the EuroLeague
Zalgiris were tagged as slight underdogs in the EuroLeague opening round in Belgrade against Crvena Zvezda but took an 83-77 victory, with veteran and former NBA star Jonas Valanciunas playing a massive role with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Nigel Williams-Goss was the top scorer with 14 points.
However, the Greens were beaten in the next two games on the big stage, first at home by the reigning European champions Olympiakos 93-91 in a big shooting showdown, followed by a disappointing 82-78 defeat to Paris in France last Thursday.
They returned to winning ways last weekend in the Lithuanian top flight, crushing Lietkabelis 97-68 in front of the home crowd while posting incredible shooting numbers (22/26 for two-pointers, 12/20 beyond the arc).