Saratov’s Avtodor defeated Samara at home, 77–69 (7–19, 24–17, 27–9, 19–24).
Main Story
The visitors opened the season’s first game with a 9–0 run. They largely dictated the pace of the opening quarter. Andrei Savrasov was the standout player of the quarter, scoring 10 points on two three-pointers out of two attempts.
Samara’s double-digit lead didn’t last long. The home team began to quickly close the gap in the second quarter. After a 12-0 run in 3 minutes, Avtodor closed the gap to a single possession, and the game became a back-and-forth business. The visitors managed to go into halftime with the lead, but by only 5 units.
The Clutch Moment
That wasn’t enough to keep the home team at bay. By the middle of the third quarter, Avtodor took the lead for the first time in the game (44–43), thanks primarily to the energy of newcomer Wendell Green. This moment proved to be a turning point in the game as well. By the start of the final quarter, the Saratov team had built a comfortable 13-point lead.
The visitors managed to get back into the game and even won the final stretch, but they were no longer in serious contention for the overall victory.
X-Factor
Avtodor rookie Wendell Green finished the game with an efficiency rating of 32. He tallied 25 points (7-for-15 from the field, 3-for-8 from beyond the arc), 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Interesting Facts
Dmitry Cheburkin played his 100th game in the VTB League.
Daniil Kosko reached the 500-point mark in the tournament.
Andrey Savrasov set personal records for points and rebounds in the league—18 points and 9 rebounds.
Evgeny Minchenko recorded his first double-double of the current season—13 points and 11 rebounds.
Vitalius Pranauskas reached the milestones of 200 rebounds and 300 assists in the League.
Press Conference
Avtodor Head Coach Rostislav Vergun: – First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the fans. I think they deserved a slightly better quality of basketball. But, unfortunately, under these circumstances, it was probably harder to put on a good show. I’m glad we won. Thanks to the guys for their character and dedication. I’m glad everyone is safe and sound. And I really hope that in a few days the situation will be different, and we’ll be able to show our best qualities on the court.
Samara Head Coach Miloš Pavičević: – A tough game. A lot of things didn’t go our way. Congratulations to Avtodor on their well-deserved victory. Basically, there’s nothing more to say.
Top Performers
Avtodor: Wendell Green (25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), Vitalius Pranauskas (19 points, 6 assists)
Samara: Andrei Savrasov (18 points, 9 rebounds), Zakhar Vedishchev (18 points), Evgeny Minchenko (13 points, 11 rebounds)
Up next :
Avtodor: September 30 at home against Uralmash
Samara: October 4 at home against Dynamo.
