Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Samara on the road – 90:83 (28:16, 19:23, 24:21, 19:23)
Game progress
Loko started with an 8:2 run and took the initiative. The hosts attempts to regain the lead were immediately stopped by Okaro White and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, who added significantly compared to the previous game. By the end of the first quarter, the guests had already secured a 12-point lead. In the second quarter, Samara made several consecutive shots and cut the difference to 6 points. But Loko quickly recovered. In the second half, the Krasnodar team continued to build the lead with three-pointers. By the start of the final quarter, the guests had with a double-digit lead – 71:60.
Key moment
Samara failed to get back into the game. The only thing that the hosts could accomplish was to cut the lead to 10 points after Justin Roberson’s free throws. But right after that, White and Jaylen Barford’s two three-pointers made the score 88:72 three minutes before the end. In the final minutes, the Volga team started long-range shots shootaround, but three made shots were not enough to avoid a loss. Lokomotiv Kuban got its second consecutive win and returned to the playoff zone.
X-Factor
Zakhar Vedischev and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell are proving with their play that Loko’s rough start was largely due to their absence. Krasnodar team bench completely dominated Samara benchers due to this duo – 48:29.
Fact
Vladislav Emchenko looks like he’s seriously in contention for the defensive player of the season award – for the second game in a row, he made 3 steals (Loko won both games).
Leaders
Samara: James Thompson (15 + 6 rebounds), Justin Roberson (14 + 8 assists + 3 steals), Javontae Hawkins (12), Hayden Dalton (10), Nikola Rebic (10).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Zakhar Vedischev (16), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (15 + 6 rebounds), Jaylen Barford (14 + 6 assists), Okaro White (13 + 7 rebounds), Jordan Morgan (9 + 6 rebounds).
What’s next
Samara: November 4 at home versus Avtodor.
Lokomotiv Kuban: November 4 at home against Pari Nizhny Novgorod
