Mazeikiai edged Rytas B 75-72 in one of the tightest finishes of the Nacionaline Krepsinio Lyga round, holding their nerve down the stretch in front of a lively home crowd on 3 October 2026. In a game that featured 11 lead changes, the difference came in the final 90 seconds, when the hosts found two clean looks at the rim while their opponents settled for contested jumpers.

It was a valuable win for Mazeikiai against a Rytas B side that has become one of the NKL's most unpredictable opponents, blending young talent from the BC Rytas development pipeline with experienced rotation players. Because Rytas B operate as a reserve team, they cannot be promoted to the LKL, which makes games like this purely about development and league position — and Mazeikiai took full advantage.

Match overview

Neither team led by more than seven points at any stage. Both defences were physical, both coaches rotated heavily, and the game turned into a half-court grind decided by execution rather than runs.

Key moments

• First half: A cagey, defence-first 20 minutes. Mazeikiai led 19-17 after one, but Rytas B answered with better ball movement in the second and went into the interval level.
• Third quarter: Mazeikiai found rhythm in the pick-and-roll and briefly opened a six-point gap, only for back-to-back Rytas B threes to wipe it out.
• Final two minutes: Level at 70-70 with 1:45 left, Mazeikiai scored five of the game's last seven points, sealing it at the free-throw line.

Tactical story

Mazeikiai won this game at the free-throw line and on the offensive glass. They attempted 22 free throws to Rytas B's 14, and their willingness to attack the rim late rather than settling for threes proved decisive. Defensively, they switched nearly every screen in the fourth quarter, forcing Rytas B's guards into isolation drives with the shot clock winding down.

Rytas B's young backcourt was impressive for three quarters, pushing tempo and generating open corner looks, but the half-court offence stalled when Mazeikiai took away the first option. A 3-of-12 shooting stretch in the final period, along with two costly live-ball turnovers, ultimately decided a game that could easily have gone the other way.

Standout players

• Justas Kavaliauskas (Mazeikiai): 18 points, including six of his team's final ten, plus four assists.
• Arnas Budrys (Mazeikiai): A double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, with several key offensive boards in the fourth.
• Giedrius Mockus (Mazeikiai): 12 points and 7 rebounds in a physical interior matchup.
• Ignas Raila (Rytas B): A game-high 21 points, keeping the visitors in it with shot-making off the dribble.
• Paulius Danisevičius (Rytas B): 15 points and 6 rebounds, effective in the mid-range but quiet in the closing minutes.

Season impact

Winning tight games is the currency of the NKL regular season, and Mazeikiai have now shown they can close. A three-point win at home against a talented development side will do wonders for confidence heading into a demanding stretch of fixtures. For Rytas B, the performance reinforced their potential while exposing the late-game decision-making that comes with a young roster — the kind of lesson that matters more than the result in a reserve-team context.