Zalgiris Kaunas vs. FC Barcelona
· Barcelona has dominated this series, holding a 21-5 lead in games played this century, including a sweep last season. Barcelona edged Zalgiris 85-88 last year in Kaunas with Kyle Kuric leading the way with 15 points.
· Barcelona beat Zalgiris in the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup final, 77-73, behind 29 points from Chicho Sibilio.
· Zalgiris head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius played four seasons for Barcelona, from 2000 to 2003 and then again in the 2012-13 season. Jasikevicius helped Barcelona win the 2003 EuroLeague title under current Barcelona head coach Svetislav Pesic. Jasikevicius was also a teammate of Barcelona center Ante Tomic during the 2012-13 season.
· Brandon Davies spent the last two seasons with Zalgiris, where he made his EuroLeague debut, helped the team reach the 2018 Final Four, and earned an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2019. Davies played under Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and was a teammate of Thomas Walkup, Erikas Venskus, Paulius Jankunas, Arturas Milaknis, Rokas Jokubaitis, Marius Grigonis and Edgaras Ulanovas.
· Barcelona guard Kevin Pangos played with Zalgiris for two years, from 2016 to 2018. He played under Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and was a teammate of Jankunas, Ulanovas, Milaknis and Lukas Lekavicius. Together they reached the Final Four in 2018.
· Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic set the EuroLeague single-game record for free throws made with 18 in a 104-105 overtime win in Kaunas while playing for Real Madrid in March of 2013. That night, he also established his EuroLeague career highs with 31 points, 11 rebounds and a PIR of 37, earning MVP of the Round award.
· Barcelona guard Thomas Heurtel tied his career-high with 4 steals playing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul against Zalgiris in December 2016.
· Pierre Oriola had career-highs in points (18) and index rating (20) against Zalgiris in March 2018.
· Barcelona center Ante Tomic shares the EuroLeague record for the most two-point shots without a miss with 11, which he scored against Zalgiris in December 2015 for a career-high 28 points, although his team lost at home 88-92.
· Tomic earned MVP honors for Round 5 of the 2014-15 Top 16 against Zalgiris after posting 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for a performance index rating of 24.
· Paulius Jankunas tied his career-high with 4 steals against Barcelona in April 2016.
· Edgaras Ulanovas set his career-high with 7 assists in a 90-74 home win over Barcelona in March of last season and tied his career-high with 3 steals against Barcelona in February 2016.
· Cory Higgins set his career-best with 6 assists against Zalgiris in a 95-86 win in November 2016.
· Barcelona has dominated this series, holding a 21-5 lead in games played this century, including a sweep last season. Barcelona edged Zalgiris 85-88 last year in Kaunas with Kyle Kuric leading the way with 15 points.
· Barcelona beat Zalgiris in the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup final, 77-73, behind 29 points from Chicho Sibilio.
· Zalgiris head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius played four seasons for Barcelona, from 2000 to 2003 and then again in the 2012-13 season. Jasikevicius helped Barcelona win the 2003 EuroLeague title under current Barcelona head coach Svetislav Pesic. Jasikevicius was also a teammate of Barcelona center Ante Tomic during the 2012-13 season.
· Brandon Davies spent the last two seasons with Zalgiris, where he made his EuroLeague debut, helped the team reach the 2018 Final Four, and earned an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2019. Davies played under Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and was a teammate of Thomas Walkup, Erikas Venskus, Paulius Jankunas, Arturas Milaknis, Rokas Jokubaitis, Marius Grigonis and Edgaras Ulanovas.
· Barcelona guard Kevin Pangos played with Zalgiris for two years, from 2016 to 2018. He played under Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and was a teammate of Jankunas, Ulanovas, Milaknis and Lukas Lekavicius. Together they reached the Final Four in 2018.
· Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic set the EuroLeague single-game record for free throws made with 18 in a 104-105 overtime win in Kaunas while playing for Real Madrid in March of 2013. That night, he also established his EuroLeague career highs with 31 points, 11 rebounds and a PIR of 37, earning MVP of the Round award.
· Barcelona guard Thomas Heurtel tied his career-high with 4 steals playing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul against Zalgiris in December 2016.
· Pierre Oriola had career-highs in points (18) and index rating (20) against Zalgiris in March 2018.
· Barcelona center Ante Tomic shares the EuroLeague record for the most two-point shots without a miss with 11, which he scored against Zalgiris in December 2015 for a career-high 28 points, although his team lost at home 88-92.
· Tomic earned MVP honors for Round 5 of the 2014-15 Top 16 against Zalgiris after posting 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for a performance index rating of 24.
· Paulius Jankunas tied his career-high with 4 steals against Barcelona in April 2016.
· Edgaras Ulanovas set his career-high with 7 assists in a 90-74 home win over Barcelona in March of last season and tied his career-high with 3 steals against Barcelona in February 2016.
· Cory Higgins set his career-best with 6 assists against Zalgiris in a 95-86 win in November 2016.
Game Facts - Zalgiris Kaunas
Roster
Zalgiris has registered 15 players for the EuroLeague season, so at least two players must sit every week.
Streaks
Arturas Milaknis has made at least 1 three-pointer in 20 of his last 21 games.
Marius Grigonis has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight games.
Grigonis has scored in double figures in six consecutive games.
Rankings
Zach LeDay is tied for third this season with 6.8 rebounds per game. LeDay ranks third in offensive rebounds with 3.0 per game.
Records/Milestones
Paulius Jankunas ranks second all-time with 1,749 rebounds. Real Madrid's Felipe Reyes is first with 1,782.
Jankunas is the EuroLeague all-time leader with 1,247 defensive rebounds.
Jankunas is third with 502 offensive rebounds for his career; CSKA Moscow's Kyle Hine is second with 520 and counting.
Jankunas ranks fourth all-time with 2,992 points. Real Madrid's Felipe Reyes enters this round in third place with 2,998 points.
Jankunas ranks fifth all-time with 3,649 index rating points.
Jankunas ranks fifth all-time with 947 two-pointers made; Mika Batiste is fourth with 949.
Jankunas ranks sixth all-time with 687 free throws made. Former teammate Marcus Brown is fifth with 690.
Jankunas is 4 blocked shots away from 100 for his career.
No player has started more games than Jankunas, who has 260 career starts.
Arturas Milaknis is in 13th place on the all-time list with 329 three-point shots made. Trajan Langdon is 12th with 339 triples for his career.
Marius Grigonis ranks second all-time in free throw accuracy at 92.66%.
Game Facts - FC Barcelona
Roster
Thomas Heurtel is sidelined with a knee injury.
Kevin Pangos has been sidelined since the start of the season with a toe injury.
Pau Ribas is yet to appear in a game this season.
Streaks
Cory Higgins has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight and 18 of his last 19 appearances.
Alex Abrines has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine of his last 10 appearances.
Nikola Mirotic has scored in double figures in each of his last nine EuroLeague games.
Mirotic has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight straight games.
Rankings
Nikola Mirotic is tied for fourth in scoring this season with 18.3 points per game.
Records/Milestones
Ante Tomic ranks fourth all-time with 1,460 rebounds. Ioannis Bourousis is third with 1,603.
Tomic ranks fourth all-time with 493 offensive rebounds. Zalgiris big man Paulius Jankunas is third with 502 and counting.
Tomic ranks fourth all-time with 967 defensive rebounds.
Tomic is the competition’s all-time leader in two-point baskets with 1,084.
Ante Tomic ranks 10th all-time with 148 blocks.
Tomic ranks 10th all-time with 2,653 points scored. Marcus Brown is ninth with 2,739.
Tomic ranks sixth all-time with 3,549 index rating points.
Thomas Heurtel ranks third all-time in assists with 1,173. Dimitris Diamantidis is second with 1,255.
Cory Higgins ranks sixth all-time, and first among active players, in three-point shooting accuracy at 47.8%.