Kauno “Žalgiris” (16-12) returns to EuroLeague action following a successful weekend claiming the King Mindaugas Cup. The Lithuanian team will host Olympiacos Piraeus (18-9) on .
As of the third quarter, “Žalgiris” trails 51-60 (18-18, 19-21, 14-21). The first matchup in Greece saw Žalgiris fall to Olympiacos 78-95.
A significant development for Žalgiris is the unexpected return of Arnas Butkevičius to the lineup. On , it was reported that Butkevičius had suffered a fracture in his foot, initially expected to sideline him for six weeks of recovery and rehabilitation. However, in the days leading up to the game against Olympiacos, Butkevičius reportedly felt improved, gradually increasing his training load and participating in individual workouts. He participated in team practice and was ultimately cleared to play.
Deividas Sirvydis will not be available for Žalgiris in this contest.
Olympiacos will be without Sasha Vezenkov, Nikola Milutinov, Giannoulis Larentzakis, and Omiros Netzipoglou.
Currently, Žalgiris holds the seventh position in the EuroLeague standings, while Olympiacos is ranked second.
Žalgiris head coach Tomas Masiulis emphasized the importance of focus and consistency throughout the entire 40 minutes of play, adhering to the team’s established game plan. He highlighted the physical challenge posed by Olympiacos, characterizing them as a potential Final Four contender. “As always before the games, the accents are the same – to be focused, to play all 40 minutes and to stick to those agreements that we want,” Masiulis stated. “First of all, you need to withstand the physicality, because the opponent is really strong, a Final Four caliber.”
Masiulis acknowledged the team’s poor performance in the first meeting against Olympiacos and identified areas for improvement. He noted that the team was not at full strength during that previous encounter. “In the first game away, we played very badly, there is something to learn from, but we did not have all the players. Tomorrow we will have almost the entire squad, the most important thing will be to stop their ball movement.”
The return of Butkevičius provides a boost to Žalgiris’s roster, offering additional options for Masiulis. His recovery from a foot fracture ahead of schedule is a positive sign for the team’s playoff aspirations. However, the absence of key Olympiacos players also presents a challenge for Žalgiris, requiring them to execute their game plan effectively and capitalize on opportunities.
The game is expected to be a physically demanding contest, with both teams vying for a crucial victory in the EuroLeague standings. Žalgiris will need to control the pace of the game, limit turnovers, and effectively defend against Olympiacos’s offensive threats to secure a win on their home court.
