Kaunas didn’t wait for the game to come to it. Žalgiris Kaunas detonated for 35 first-quarter points and rode that early surge to a 104-87 EuroLeague win over Monaco on February 3, 2026 at Žalgirio Arena.
The margin never truly felt fragile after that opening burst. Monaco kept scoring across the middle quarters, but Žalgiris consistently answered—winning every period and finishing with a 17-point cushion in a game that stayed tilted from the start.
How the game swung
The decisive stretch was the first 10 minutes. Žalgiris’ 35-18 lead after one quarter created a scoreboard problem Monaco couldn’t solve. From there, the math was simple: even with Monaco producing 20 in the second and 22 in the third, Žalgiris didn’t have to chase the game—only manage it.
The home side did more than manage. Žalgiris kept pressure on the defense with a steady diet of creation and quick decisions, adding 21 in the second, 20 in the third, and closing with 28 in the fourth to prevent any late push.
Ball movement: Žalgiris’ separator
With limited box-score detail available, the clearest indicator of control was in the passing game. Žalgiris finished with 27 assists to Monaco’s 22, a gap that matched the flow: the home team played with more connectivity, consistently turning possessions into advantages and points.
That edge in playmaking mattered most early, when Žalgiris’ offense looked organized and aggressive at the same time—creating clean shots, forcing rotations, and building a lead that shifted Monaco into catch-up mode for the remaining three quarters.
By the numbers: quarter-by-quarter control
- Q1: Žalgiris 35, Monaco 18
- Q2: Žalgiris 21, Monaco 20
- Q3: Žalgiris 20, Monaco 22
- Q4: Žalgiris 28, Monaco 27
Monaco’s best quarter came in the third, but even then the visitors only trimmed two points off a deficit that was already substantial. Žalgiris’ fourth-quarter 28 ensured the finish matched the start—assertive and offense-forward.
What it means going forward
Žalgiris improved on the night from a 14-11 record and continued to build on a form line that has swung game to game (LWWLW). The takeaway is less about streakiness and more about ceiling: when the offense is humming and the ball is popping, Žalgiris can put a quality opponent in a hole quickly.
Monaco arrived at 15-10 with mixed recent form (LLLWW), and this one underscored how punishing a slow start can be in EuroLeague road environments. The response scoring was there, but the early deficit turned the rest of the night into damage control.