About next match

HEAD COACHES
TRIFUNOVIC, ALEKSANDAR Zalgiris head coach "We know the meaning of this game – by winning we can get the ticket to Top 16. We had many tough games this season and after some losses our chances were doubtful, but after a good performance in Germany last week we opened the door to go further. We are playing home, so it doesn’t create additional pressure for us. We are getting better looking in the long term, but in a certain areas we still need to turn things around. KK Zagreb is a very experienced team. They have their main guys in top shape. Krunoslav Simon has played some tremendous games lately. Mulaomerovic and Kasun are also the players who are capable to decide the game. It will be tough, but if we play our game and remember that game lasts for 40 minutes we should make our fans happy in the end."	ANDROIC, VLADIMIR KK Zagreb CO head coach "Making it through to the Top 16 would be a huge success for all of us in the club, especially because at the beginning of the competition this seemed impossible. It would be like a dream come true, for both players and coaches. Winning in Kaunas will be a hard task, though. Zalgiris is teh big favorite, they came from the dead last week in Bamberg and their confidence  must be high before this game. How we open the game will be of key importance, we have to stay close, and the longer we stay close bigger our chances will become. We also have to try to stop their power forwards and watch for Paulius Jankunas.  On the other hand, I hope for our team to play a good game, but in order to be successful we will also need more players joining Mario Kasun and Krunoslav Simon who both play at a high level at the moment."
PLAYERS
DELININKAITIS, TOMAS Zalgiris guard "We are really motivated after the win against Bamberg last week, but we cannot be relaxed because we know we just made one step and another needs to be made on Wednesday. KK Zagreb is a strong opponent, which also has a chance to qualify to Top 16. They play as a team, they are really strong in halfcourt play, so we need to be careful and concentrated. It is an important game for both teams and we can not expect easy game even if we play at home."

RECORDS 3-5, Group B Regular season 2011-12 2-6, Group B PROBABLE STARTERS Mantas Kalnietis Guard Damir Mulaomerovic Tomas Delininkaitis Guard Damir Rancic Sonny Weems Forward Petar Babic Paulius Jankunas Forward Seam May Robertas Javtokas Center Papa Dia THE STAKES A key matchup that will help determine the fourth and final spot in the Last 16 from Group B takes place in Kaunas, Lithuania on Wednesday night between Zalgiris Kaunas and KK Zagreb. Zalgiris will advance if it wins. On the other hand, KK Zagreb advances if it beats Zalgiris and Brose Baskets loses. Zalgiris is coming off a major road victory against Brose Baskets last week and will be looking to keep the momentum going. INJURIES Zalgiris has all its players ready for this game, but Zagreb’s Dario Saric is questionable. THE TAKE Zalgiris will try to run the ball with Mantas Kalnietis at point guard and Zagreb will opt for a slower tempo and work the ball through its frontcourt, led by Mario Kasun, Sean May and Josh Heytvelt. Keep an eye on the perimeter, where Sonny Weems of Zalgiris and Krunoslav Simon of Zagreb, the leading scorers for their respective teams, will bump heads. A backcourt matchup that includes Marko Popovic, last season's Eurocup Finals MVP, for the hosts and former Euroleague champion Damir Mulamerovic for the guests, should also be key. Whichever side dictates the game tempo will have the best chances to win, but that will be most difficult for Zagreb with the Kaunas crowd trying to push Zalgiris over the finish line. Game notes, Zalgiris Kaunas Game notes, KK Zagreb The last time Zalgiris has beaten KK Zagreb was in the 1996-97 season. Since then the Zagreb has won four in a row. Marko Popovic has made at least 1 three-pointer in 31 straight Euroleague appearances. His last Euroleague game without a triple came in November 2006 with Zalgiris at home against CSKA. The first game between the teams was the only one in which Sonny Weems didn't score in double-digits. Zalgiris started the season with just one win in the first six games and with a win over KK Zagreb would finish the Regular Season with three wins in four games. Paulius Jankunas had one of the best games of his Euroleague career against Zagreb last month when he posted 24 points and 11 rebounds and tallied a career-high performance index rating of 38. Zagreb's first win this season came against Zalgiris. Krunoslav Simon has made 14 consecutive free throws in Euroleague action. Damir Mulaomerovic has made 11 consecutive free throws in Euroleague action. Saso Ozbolt is only 4 steals from reaching the 100-steal mark for his Euroleague career. Josh Heytvelt has made at least 1 three-pointer in six consecutive Euroleague games. Heytvelt recorded the first double-double of his Euroleague career against Zalgiris last month. He posted 17 points and 11 rebounds in a Zagreb win. REFEREES Crew Chief Referee Umpire Recep Ankarali Turkey Sergey Chebyshev Ukraine Marius Ciulin Rumania Zalgiris Kaunas Min Pts 2FG M-A 3FG M-A FT M-A Rebounds As St To Blocks Fouls Rkg O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv Totals 1825:00 676 187/376 53/164 143/209 88 229 317 110 52 133 17 28 214 206 637 Average 202:06 75.1 49.7% 32.3% 68.4% 09.8 25.4 35.2 12.2 05.8 14.8 01.9 03.1 23.8 22.9 70.8 Totals 1800:00 642 166/340 68/208 106/126 86 224 310 111 45 154 16 26 184 153 579 Average 200:00 71.3 48.8% 32.7% 84.1% 09.6 24.9 34.4 12.3 05.0 17.1 01.8 02.9 20.4 17.0 64.3 KK Zagreb Monday, December 19, 2011 Euroleague.net

STATS COMPARISIONS: TEAMS AND PLAYERS

Team Aver.			Team Leaders	Head-to-Head			Team Leaders			Team Aver.
75.1	Pts.		WEEMS, SONNY	17.2	Pts.	14.9	SIMON, KRUNOSLAV		Pts.	71.3
49.73 %	2FG%		KUZMINSKAS, MINDAUGAS	87.50 %	2FG%	100.00 %	MASIC, ANTE		2FG%	48.82 %
32.32 %	3FG%		WEEMS, SONNY	50.00 %	3FG%	75.00 %	BABIC, PETAR		3FG%	32.69 %
35.2	Rebounds		WEEMS, SONNY	6.1	Rebounds	6.2	HEYTVELT, JOSH		Rebounds	34.4
12.2	Assist.		KALNIETIS, MANTAS	3.2	Assist.	2.7	SIMON, KRUNOSLAV		Assist.	12.3