Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Avtodor in Saratov – 98:88 (26:20, 22:28, 23:26, 27:14).

Game progress
Although Loko managed to build a slight advantage in the opening quarter, Malik Newman helped the host to get closer. His dunk encouraged the Saratov team and quickly tied. From that moment until the end of the half, the game was equal. By the halftime, Mailk scored 16 points without missing every single shot – 48:48.

In the second half, Avtodor pick up the pace. Sindarius Thornwell 2 and-one situations and three-pointer helped the hosts to take the lead by the end of the third quarter – 74:71.

Key moment
But Loko didn’t give up either. The Krasnodar team took the lead at the start of the final quarter: Jaylen Barford three-pointers and Kirill Elatontsev free-throws helped to make a 15:2 run. Loko had a 10-point lead, and although Thornwell and Dominic Mavra were able to briefly cut it to 5 points, but that was it. The Krasnodar team quickly regained a comfortable difference and kept it until the end, which helped the team to extending the winning streak to 6 games.

X-factor
In the fourth quarter, Loko noticeably added defense, forcing Avtodor to make 6 turnovers (the Saratov team had 12 turnovers in 3 quarters). As a result, the hosts was limited to just 14 points in the last quarter.

Fact
The Krasnodar team repeated the season-high in points scored, but failed to make it to a 100.

Malik Newman set a new career-high with 30 points. He misses first shot from the game only in the fourth quarter.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell had his 13-game streak of 10 or more points scored.

Leaders
Avtodor: Malik Newman (30), Sindarius Thornwell (17), Dominic Mavra (11 + 9 assists), Rayshawn Hammonds (9 + 5 rebounds).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Jaylen Barford (24), Okaro White (18), Andrey Martiuk (17 + 7 rebounds), Kirill Elatontsev (13).

What’s next
Avtodor (9-12): January 14 on the road versus Zenit
Lokomotiv Kuban (15-6): January 13 at home against CSKA.