UNICS defeated Zenit in Semifinals Game 1 at home – 107:104 OT (23:18, 15:26, 29:17, 23:29, 17:14)
Game progress
Before the game, Jalen Reynolds received Sixth Man of the Year award, and after quickly scored 7 points to put UNICS ahead coming off the bench in the second half of the first quarter – 23:18. The Kazan team was unable to increase momentum in the second quarter. Zenit found an answer: Luka Samanic scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 7 minutes, allowing to take the initiative. Despite a low field goal percentage (43.2%) and just 7 free throw attempts (compared to the hosts’ 19), the St. Petersburg team led by halftime – 44:38.
UNICS demonstrated great defense at the start of the third quarter and mounted a 12-0 run. Zenit recovered – Andrei Martiuk and Georgy Zhbanov made three-pointers, then Andrey Vorontsevich added 5 points. In the final stretch, Samanic scoring kicked in again for Zenit (7 points in 2,5 minutes), after which the St. Petersburg team pulled ahead once more – 73:62.
An exchange of scoring runs led the teams into clutch. In the final minute, Samanic put Zenit ahead. Then Reynolds attempted to score, missed, but UNICS was saved by Dmitry Kulagin’s 3-pointer – 90:90.
Key moment
Overtime began just as regulation had ended—with a three-pointer by Kulagin. Soon, Reynolds added another 7 consecutive points to the Kazan team’s momentum, and Zenit responded with 2 long-range shots by Samanic!
Only the shot clock could stop the shootout. With the score at 105-104, the guests committed a tactical foul, and Paris Lee scored twice. Zenit had no timeouts left, but the St. Petersburg team was close to tie: Moon drove the ball across the entire court and attempted three-pointer, but missed. UNICS snatched the win in Playoffs 2026 first overtime!
X-Factor
DyShawn Pierre had his best game for UNICS. 27 points, 10 of 12 FGM, 5 of 5 3-PTM—all career highs for the forward in Kazan team—as well as 3 assists in 38 minutes.
Facts
For the first time in this year’s Playoffs, a game went into overtime, and both teams scored over 100 points for the first time.
There were 15 lead changes during regulation.
Trent Frazier recorded 7 assists and moved up to 6th place in League history: 5) Casper Ware – 789, 6) Trent Frazier – 778, 7) Milos Teodosic – 776, 8) Anton Ponkrashov – 775, 9) Branko Mirkovic – 774.
Two UNICS players were named League award winners on Monday. Jalen Reynolds received the award as Sixth Man of the Year, while Marcus Bingham was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Leaders
UNICS: DyShawn Pierre (27), Jalen Reynolds (23 + 7 rebounds), Dmitry Kulagin (18), Marcus Bingham (14 + 9 rebounds)
Zenit: Luka Samanic (28 points + 6 rebounds), Georgy Zhbanov (23 points + 7 rebounds), Trent Frazier (10 points + 7 assists), Xavier Moon (9 points + 6 rebounds + 7 assists)
What’s enxt
Game 2 on May 13 in Kazan.
