Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Samara at home – 96:79 (26:26, 19:19, 25:19, 26:15).
Game progress
The guests dominated at the start of the game. The Krasnodar team struggled to score against Samara’s zone defense, allowing Vladislav Konovalov team to make an 8:0 run. However, several turnovers by the Volga team allowed the hosts to tie the score by the middle of the first quarter. The game remained equal throughout the second quarter. The guests lost the ball more often (10 turnovers vs 5), but played better in the paint, grabbing 8 more rebounds than the opponent in the first half. The score was tied by halftime – 45:45.
Key moment
Neither team managed to pull away, but with a minute left in the third quarter, the Krasnodar team made a run and entered the final quarter with a 6-point lead. A long-range shot by B.J. Johnson brought the difference to 9 points. Samara tried to fight back, but Loko fast breaks allowed to secure the win.
X-factor
Turnovers prevented Samara from fighting back at key moments. Vladislav Konovalov’s team committed 20 turnovers compared to 12 for the hosts. The Krasnodar team effectively took advantage of these mistakes and made 10 steals.
Facts
Rivlary history score: 10-1, Loko leads. The only time Samara beat the Krasnodar team at home was in December 2024 (72-71).
Samara has a 6-game losing streak, the longest in the VTB League at the moment.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: B.J Johnson (17), Mike Moore (12), Vsevolod Ishchenko (12), Vince Hunter (11), Jeremiah Martin (10 + 7 assists)
Samara: Nikita Mikhailovskii (21 + 9 rebounds), Danila Pokhodiaev (16 + 6 rebounds), Evgeny Minchenko (15), Aleksandr Kuznetsov (11), Artem Pivtsaikin (11 + 6)
What’s next
Lokomotiv Kuban: January 29 on the road against Uralmash
Samara: January 19 at home versus BETCITY PARMA.
