PARMA defeated Samara on the road – 81:73 (29:15, 22:26, 17:18, 13:14).
Game progress
PARMA had a good game start. A 13:2 run, Timofey Yakushin and Samson Ruzhentsev helped the Perm team finish the first quarter with a double-digit difference – 28:15. Stanislav Ilnitskiy’s 8 points in a row brought PARMA lead to 18 points. However, at the end of the first half Samara finally entered the game and didn’t let the guest get further – 51:41.
Key moment
The third quarter repeated the scenario of the second quarter – again, PARMA took the same 18-point lead, and again Samara boosted in the final minutes and got closer, even managing to get out of a 10-point deficit – 68:59. However, the hosts didn’t find a player who would take over the leadership, while PARMA still had Ruzhentsev. His shooting (8 of the team’s 13 points) and quality defense allowed the Perm team to hold 8-10-point lead, and PARMA maintained it till the end.
PARMA wins in Samara for the first time since February 2023.
X-factor
In December, PARMA was the best team in three-point shooting (45.7%). In today’s game, the Perm team confirmed its status by nearly repeating their average percentage (10 of 22, 45.5%). PARMA lost 3 of 4 quarters, but the lead made in the first quarter was enough for the win.
Facts
Samson Ruzhentsev played his best game in the VTB League with 26 points.
Royce Hamm made his 8th double-double, holding the League lead by a wide margin.
Leaders
Samara: Ilia Popov (19 + 9 rebounds), Anton Kardanakhishvili (18), Gleb Goldyrev (16), Andrey Sopin (5 + 5 rebounds).
PARMA: Samson Ruzhentsev (26), Royce Hamm (23 + 12 rebounds), Timofey Yakushin (12 + 5 rebounds + 8 assists).
What’s next
Samara: January 4 on the road versus Uralmash.
PARMA: December 25 on the road against UNICS.
