Pari Nizhny Novgorod beat MBA-MAI in Moscow – 89:88 (19:22, 23:25, 25:17, 22:24).
Game progress
Vladislav Trushkin opened the scoring, and that set the rhythm for the game. MBA-MAI forward became the best player of the first half. He had 19 points in 20 minutes (5 of 7 three-pointers). Trushkin and Makar Konovalov helped the hosts to get the lead in the opening period. The Moscow team controlled the game. Nizhny Novgorod didn’t let the opponent go far, but at the end of the second quarter MBA-MAI still managed to create a 5-point lead – 47:42.
During the third quarter, the guests were able to take the initiative and got the lead. But the Moscow team was still able to get into the clutch with Andrey Zubkov help. The score was tied 2 minutes before the end – 76:76
Key moment
The game had a dramatic ending. After back-to-back three-pointers by Zach Nutall and Aubrey Dawkins, Nizhny Novgorod took a 7-point lead 41 seconds before end – 86:79. The guests seemed to have the win, but Maxim Barashkov and Konovalov long-range shots cutdeficit to a minimum 10 seconds before the end – 87:88.
The hosts fouled Dmitrii Khvostov and the veteran missed his second free throw. Evgenii Baburin stopped the Moscow team possession with a foul. Konovalov stepped to the line to take the game into overtime. But after the first free throw made, he missed the second. That miss kept the winning score for Pari NN.
X-factor
Rebounding was one of the main factors in the guests’ win. Nizhny Novgorod has 11 more rebounds than the opponent (40-29). The Volga team 20 offensive rebounds were the third season-best in the VTB League.
Facts
Dmitrii Khvostov scored points in this game and moved into the VTB League’s Top 20 players in scoring, surpassing Evgeny Kolesnikov (1,794 points). Nizhny Novgorod guard now has 1,799 points.
Makar Konovalov set his season-high 21 points and 10 assists, also made his first double-double in the VTB League.
Leaders
MBA-MAI: Andrey Zubkov (26 + 5 rebounds + 5 steals), Makar Konovalov (21 + 10 assists), Vladislav Trushkin (19).
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Zach Nutall (19), Dmitrii Khvostov (16 + 5 assists), Aleksandr Khomenko (14), Aleksandr Chadov (11 + 9 rebounds).
What’s next
MBA-MAI: December 8 at home versus Astana
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: December 9 at home against Samara.
