Samara defeated PARMA at home – 85:83 (17:25, 21:24, 23:16, 24:18).
Game progress
The guests started the game with three-pointers by B.J. Johnson and Stanislav Ilnitskiy, then Richard Solomon made and-one, which helped PARMA finish the first quarter with an 8-point lead. Throughout the second quarter, the hosts tried to catch up with three-pointers, but such scoring method didn’t help. Evgeny Pashutin team had a double-digit lead by the halftime – 49:38.
Samara changed tactics in the second half and had focus on scoring in the paint. That quickly began to pay off – Samara started to cut the difference and Nikola Rebic gave the hosts the lead for the first time in the game with a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter – 61:59.
Key moment
Samara started the fourth quarter poorly, but then Mikhail Kulagin proved himself. His 10 points in a row helped the Volga team regain the lead. The end of the game was a real thriller. Isaiah Reese and Aleksandr Platunov nearly knocked out Samara with 2 three-pointers – 83:82. In the return possession, Ilya Platonov made three-pointer after crazy ball movement – 85:83! A quick foul by Samara sent Platunov to the free-throw line, but PARMA guard missed the first one, and missed the second on purpose, but Samara got a rebound. Drazen Anzulovic team extended the winning streak to 3 games.
X-factor
Mikhail Kulagin played his best game for Samara and scored more than 20 points for the first time since March 2022 – when the Russian guard played for Pari Nizhny Novgorod. Kulagin 10 straight points were the deciding factor in the hosts victory.
Fact
Although Samara sharpshooters started the game poorly (less than 20%), by the end of the game the Volga team increased it to 40%. Samara continue to lead the League in three-point percentage.
Leaders
Samara: Mikhail Kulagin (23), Justin Roberson (23 + 4 steals), Ilya Platonov (15), Aleksandr Gudumak (10 + 5 rebounds).
PARMA: Isaiah Reese (25 + 9 assists), B.J. Johnson (15 + 5 rebounds), Richard Solomon (14 + 5 rebounds), Stanislav Ilnitskiy (9 + 7 rebounds).
What’s next
Samara (7-5): November 27 on the road against Astana
PARMA (4-8): November 26 on the road versus Avtodor.
