Šiauliai went undefeated on the home floor and prevailed over Basket Brno, 88-70, on Tuesday, January 30, at the Šiauliai arena in northern Lithuania.
The Yellow Devils will qualify for the 2024 ENBL playoffs on Wednesday night if 1) Voluntari defeat Zastal Zielona Gora and Newcastle defeat Keila, 2) Keila defeat Newcastle.
Players of the game
Leonard Thorpe Jr scored 15 points for Šiauliai on 6/8 shooting from the field.
UNC Asheville standout grabbed four rebounds and dished out five assists in 17 minutes of playing time.
Paulius Danusevicius also had 15 points on 7/9 shooting from the court.
Small forward added six rebounds and three assists.
Daniel Baslyk, Tomaš Pavelka and Dachon Burke (University of South Alabama 2021) registered 11 points each.
Simon Svoboda led Basket Brno with 15 points.
Nineteen year old forward went 3/8 from the three point line.
Terrell Brown-Soares contributed with 13 points and five rebounds.
A former University of San Diego power forward had three blocks.
Key stats
Šiauliai offense worked like a clock for a 45-30 lead at the halftime break.
Nine players scored for Šiauliai in the first half.
The hosts registered seven assists, four steals and – zero turnovers.
Yes, you read that right. Zero turnovers.
Basket Brno attempted a comeback and 10 minutes later cut the lead down to seven points, 64-57.
Martin Vanek and his men registered eight turnovers in the first half.
Šiauliai defense was too much for them.
Finally, the hosts had four turnovers and Brno – 20 turnovers.
Game notes
Šiauliai improved to 5-1, while Basket Brno dropped to 1-6.
The Lithuanians won all four games on the home floor.
Šiauliai are leading the series against Brno, 2-1.
The first two games between the teams were played on neutral floor.
Šiauliai still need favorable results in Wednesday`s games to qualify for the playoffs.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 15 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of January 30, 2024, CET 19:30
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 6-1 (+104) Qualified
Bakken Bears Aarhus 5-1 (+69) Qualified
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 4-3 (+22) Qualified
Bristol Flyers 4-3 (+62) Qualified
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 3-3 (-1)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-3 (-44)
Svendborg Rabbits 1-6 (-156)
Spartak Pleven 1-5 (-56)
Group B
CSO Voluntari 5-1 (+67) Qualified
Šiauliai 5-1 (+57)
Royal Liège Basket 4-2 (+60)
Zastal Zielona Gora 4-1 (+25)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 3-2 (+20)
Keila Coolbet 2-4 (-39)
Basket Brno 1-6 (-76)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-7 (-114)