Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Avtodor in Saratov 84:72 (20:22, 14:17, 25:14, 25:19).

Game progress
The hosts took the lead at the start of the game. The Volga team led by 7 points – 13:6. The Krasnodar team slowed down the opponent, but not much more. Vladislav Emchenko energy wasn’t enough for Loko to make a comeback. The guests didn’t feel too comfortable in positional game. But the Saratov team confidently maintained the lead. In the second quarter, Avtodor had a 9-point lead. But by halftime, Emchenko helped the KRasnodar team to cut the deficit – 34:39.

The guests came out for the second half with a completely different attitude. Loko added aggression in defense and began to move faster from defense to offense. The Saratov team was not ready for the opponent transformation. Loko quickly caught up with the opponent and took the lead. At the end of the third quarter, Loko had a 7-point lead – 56:49.

Key moment
The Saratov team tried to take the initiative. But tactics that Avtodor used in first half were no longer working. At the start of the final quarter, Loko lead became double-digit – 63:53. The guests took control of the game. Andrei Martiuk helped to put the lead to 18 points – 73:55. In the remaining time, the Volga team was able to cut the deficit a little bit, but that was it.

X-factor
Vladislav Emchenko has great shape at the end of the regular season. In this game, his energy and made shots kept Loko alive in the first half. In total, the guests’ guard scored 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

Facts
Loko was able to get 2 wins in a row for the first time since February 12.

Loko head coach Andrei Vedischev received 2 technical fouls in a game for the first time in his career and left his team’s bench early in the middle of the second quarter.

Vladislav Emchenko scored the 1,000th point in the VTB League. After today’s game, Loko guard has 1,000 points in the VTB League.

This was Loko last road game of the regular season. The Krasnodar team will play the remaining 4 games at home.

Leaders
Avtodor: Kerem Kanter (21), Charles Manning (15).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Patrick Miller (17 + 9 assists), Isaiah Whaley (15 + 7 rebounds), Antonius Cleveland (14 + 8 rebounds + 5 assists), Vladislav Emchenko (12), Andrei Martiuk (11).

What’s next
Avtodor: April 1 on the road versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod
Lokomotiv Kuban: April 2 at home against Astana