19 September, 2017
06 May, 2018
11 Edgaras Zelionis (LTU)
01/11/2017
Game Report
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High-intensity Neptunas rout Gaziantep

KLAIPEDA (Basketball Champions League) - Sheer domination. That's the only way to describe the performance of Neptunas Klaipeda on Wednesday night at home to Gaziantep.

The Lithuanian team rolled to a 114-73 victory over the side of southern Turkey with players like Edgaras Zelionis, Juan Palacios, Mindaugas Girdziunas and Arnas Butkevicius setting the tone with their intensity and determination on both ends of the floor.

Zelionis scored 13 points in the first quarter but it was the second when Neptunas lowered the boom, forcing the visitors into numerous turnovers. When the hosts didn't make shots, they grabbed offensive rebounds and got second, third and sometimes fourth attempts.

They led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter before taking a 58-44 lead to the break. There was no sign of a let-up in the third or fourth quarters, either, with Neptunas winning those frames 28-15 and 28-14, respectively.

No one in the line-up of Kazys Maksvytis let up on the night, which is why they poured in the most points and claimed the biggest margin of victory on the season so far.

The 114 also equalled the number of points scored by CEZ Nymburk last season in a win over Bakken Bears.

The previous high point total this season had been the 108 scored by Umana Reyer Venezia on Gameday 1 but they needed triple overtime to pull off the feat.

As big and talented as Gaziantep are, they were a step slow to every loose ball and by the end of the game, Neptunas had out-rebounded them, 45-25.

Neptunas raised eyebrows last season when Jimmy Baron torched Muratbey Usak Sportif for 42 points but Wednesday's big win over Gaziantep has been the most impressive team performance for the club in the Basketball Champions League.

They improved to 3-1 in Group B while Gaziantep lost for the second time in a row to fall to 2-2.