Neptunas keep Juventus winless; Reinhardt's game-winner downs Nevezis

There was no lack of drama to begin the weekend action in the Betsafe LKL, with both of Saturday's games going right down to the wire as Neptunas and Dzukija claimed last-second wins.

The Kazys Makvytis-coached Neptunas prolonged early season growing pains of the still winless Juventus with a 73-72 triumph in Utena after Edgaras Zelionis converted a free-throw to give the visitors the one-point edge with hardly any time to spare.

In a game of swings, it was the Klaipeda club who had the final say in spite of allowing the hosts to come back into the game in the final quarter.

Juan Palacios finished the evening with a game-high 20 points for the winners, while the team's revelation Arnas Butkevicius continued to shine in his own all-rounded way, collecting 13 points, 8 reounds, 3 steals and a pair of assists en route to an overall performance ranking of 28.

Four players double figures for Juventus, with Arvydas Siksnius and Mindaugas Kupsas tallying 12 points apiece and Anthony Ireland and Laron Dendy adding 11 each.

It was the fifth consecutive loss for Juventus, while Neptunas maintained their position as one of the table leaders with a 5-1 mark.

In spite of a memorable fourth-quarter comeback in the other game of the day, Nevezis also couldn't break the poor stretch to start the season, as Katin Reinhardt's game-winning dagger three-pointer handed Dzukija an 85-82 victory.

The 24-year-old swingman, who knocked down the all-deciding triple at the end of regulation, guided the Alytus team forward with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, with big man Anatoly Kashirov chipping in with 16 points and 7 rebounds.

Nevezis guard Malcolm Grant witnessed his side drop to 0-3 in the standings despite a 25-point and 5-assist effort and Vladyslav Koreniuk's 16 points and 8 rebounds were also not enough.

Meanwhile, the victory saw Dzukija climb to sixth place in the standings after improving to a 2-4 record.

Highlights of Dzukija v Nevezis: