Krasnodar’s Lokomotiv-Kuban defeated St. Petersburg’s Zenit at home, 73–72 (22–24, 24–15, 15–13, 12–20).
Main Story
St. Petersburg got off to a great start. Solid defense, several fast breaks, and the energy of Georgy Zhbanov allowed Zenit to build a double-digit lead as early as the middle of the first quarter—17–7. However, the Kuban team quickly regained their composure and seized the initiative. Right at the start of the second quarter, following a precise shot by Aleksej Pokusevski, the home team took the lead for the first time in the game—26–24. By halftime, Lokomotiv’s lead had grown to 7 points—46–39.
The Clutch Moment
In the third quarter, the home team managed to maintain their lead, but in the final 10 minutes, the St. Petersburg team caught up with their opponents. In the end, the outcome of the game was decided only in the very final moments.
With a minute and a half left on the clock, a precise shot by Ike Iroegbu cut Zenit’s deficit to a single point—72–73. In the remaining time, the visitors had several opportunities to take the lead. But all five of their shots missed the mark. This allowed Lokomotiv to hold on to a narrow lead and secure the victory in this crucial matchup.
X-Factor
The home team relied on an aggressive offense. This was reflected in the number of free throws. The Kuban team stepped to the line 22 times in this game and made every attempt (Zenit went 7-for-10).
Interesting Facts
Loko secured its fourth consecutive victory against Zenit. As a result, the Kuban team now leads the head-to-head series against the St. Petersburg team, 27–26.
Zenit set a new season record for offensive rebounds—24.
Loko has yet to lose a game at home this season. The Kuban team has four home wins.
Press Conference
Tomislav Tomović, Head Coach of Lokomotiv-Kuban:
– Thank you to Zenit for today’s game—it was a real basketball battle, in the best sense of the word. Today, I have to say that I’m proud of our team. Throughout all 40 minutes, the guys showed exactly the kind of character I expect from them. That allowed us to turn the game around after a less-than-ideal start and then hold on in the closing minutes. I’d like to give a special mention to the atmosphere in the arena. In all my time with Lokomotiv, today’s support was probably one of the best. I sincerely thank every fan who was in the stands today. I hope you’ll continue to come to our games, and together we’ll make basketball a real celebration.
Zenit Head Coach Duško Ivanović:
– We prepared for Lokomotiv as if they were one of the league’s top teams. We started the game well, with the right focus and a variety of offensive options. But in the second quarter, we lost our concentration, and I think that stretch cost us the win. Nevertheless, in the second half, our team once again showed the necessary level of effort, and in the end, the outcome of the game came down to a single shot. I congratulate our opponent with the victory, but the season is just beginning. We still have many games ahead of us, including against Lokomotiv. We’ll see how the next games play out.
Top Performers
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Patrick Miller (19), Aleksej Pokusevski (14 + 9 rebounds + 5 assists), Andrey Lopatin (12 + 7 rebounds), Marcos Knight (12 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists)
Zenit: Georgy Zhbanov (17 + 7 rebounds + 5 assists), Ike Iroegbu (13), Chris Ledlum (10 + 5 rebounds), Andre Roberson (8 + 11 rebounds)
Up Next
Lokomotiv-Kuban: October 25, away against Samara
Zenit: October 21, away against Samara.
Highlights:
