Pari Nizhny Novgorod defeated Lokomotiv Kuban at home – 76:74 (8:23, 27:19, 26:16, 15:16).

Game progress
Aleksandr Chadov made shot 7 minutes before the end of the first quarter was the last one of the opening quarter for Nizhny. Then 14 straight missed attempts, and Loko took a huge lead – 23:6. However, the hosts quickly cut the difference. The team shooters started the comeback, and after Ivan Strebkov free throws, the score difference reached 5 points. NN then slowed down, but did not allow the Krasnodar team to develop a lead in the first half – 35:42.

By the halftime, 11 players from each team had already scored points.

Casey Shepherd scored 9 quick points in the third quarter, and the hosts took the lead for the first time. Nizhny Novgorod kept the advantage before the final quarter – 61:58.

Key moment
The teams slowed the pace and entered the clutch ending with 1-point difference – 71:72. Nizhny defended first, and Aleksandr Gankevich put his team ahead after Jaylen Barford turnover! Aleksander Sekulic took a timeout, but the coach plan ended with another turnover – this time DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell made a mistake.

However, Loko had a chance to save the game. 4 seconds to go, Akoon-Purcell made a difficult contested mid-range shot for the lead, but missed it. Nizhny broke a 5-game losing streak and Loko’s 7-game winning streak.

X-Factor
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell shot could have brought Loko 8th win in a row, but Aleksandr Gankevich defense saved the hosts.

Fact
Pari Nizhny Novgorod commited 33 fouls and set a new season-high. Earlier, MBA made 32 team fouls against Zenit.

Leaders
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Casey Shepherd (18 + 5 rebounds)
Lokomotiv Kuban: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (23), Andrey Martiuk (11 + 11 rebounds), Jaylen Barford (10)

What’s next
Pari Nizhny Novgorod (6-17): January 24 on the road against CSKA
Lokomotiv Kuban (16-7): January 24 at home versus MINSK.