Grant sets new season-high with 32 points, as Nevezis triumph in Utena

Nevezis pulled off an incredible turnaround on the road in Utena to celebrate their first victory of the season in Betsafe LKL, while handing the winless Juventus another painful blow.

The team from Kedainiai overturned a 19-point deficit with an excellent second-half performance to claim a long-awaited 80-74 victory and improve to 1-4 in the standings, with Malcolm Grant setting a new league season-high with 32 points.

The 29-year-old guard went 10-of-14 from the field and knocked down all six of his free-throws, as Latvian newcomer Rihards Kuksiks added 14 points and 8 rebounds in just 15 minutes in his Nevezis debut.

Tamulis was the only other player in double figures for the winners with 13 points, while Anthony Ireland and scored a team-high 15 points for Juventus, who dropped to a league-worst 0-7 record.

Gediminas Petrauskas, the head coach of the Utena side, announced he is stepping down from his position following the loss.

Elsewhere, league leaders and the only undefeated team this season, Lietkabelis, overpowered Pieno Zvaigzdes with an 85-75 scoreline in Pasvalys to maintain a grip on the first spot in the table with a perfect 8-0 mark.

Despite trailing for most of the contest, the hosts had taken a 65-64 lead in the fourth quarter, but the visitors from Panevezys responded with a 14-3 spurt to restore a double-figure deficit.

Zanis Peiners and Adas Juskevicius were the key players for coach Arturs Stalbergs with 16 points apiece, while Steponas Babrauskas scored a game-high 20 points for Pieno Zvaigzdes.

Meanwhile, Lietuvos Rytas did not have to worry about any drama on the road against Siauliai, inscribing a dominant 101-71 victory to improve to a 6-2 mark in spite of a recent injury bug.

Travis Peterson and Rokas Giedraitis scored 17 points apiece, Loukas Mavrokefalidis and Mindaugas Lukauskis added 14 each for the winners, as Marc Carter got everyone involved with 13 assists.

For Siauliai, Laurynas Birutis had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Donatas Sabeckis finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.