Samara defeated Pari Nizhny Novgorod at home – 91:87 (20:23, 25:16, 27:25, 19:23).

Game progress
At the start of the game Nizhny Novgorod managed to take the lead. But the hosts showed character and stayed in the game. Vladislav Konovalov team made a 10-point run, which helped to get the lead – 28:23.

Nizhny Novgorod tried to take the initiative, but the hosts turned on the three-point play. In the second quarter, Samara made 7 of 11 long-range shots (63.6%). That allowed to maintain the lead by halftime – 45:39.

Key moment
The hosts didn’t let lead to slip away in the second half. Sopin helped the hosts to take a comfortable lead. A minute before the end, Goldyrev let the team to take a 7-point lead – 89:82. Pari Nizhny Novgorod tried to save the game, but tactical fouls and quick transitions only helped them cut the deficit, and Samara took the win.

X-Factor
Three-pointers were the key in this game. Samara made 16 of 35 long-range shots (45.7%).

Facts
Samara ended 12-game losing streak. For Nizhny Novgorod, today’s loss was the 4th in a row.

Andrei Sopin was on the bench for only 14 seconds in last 4 games. In this game he became the key player in Samara. In 40 minutes of playing time, Sopin scored career-high 27 points and had 6 assists.

Leaders
Samara: Andrei Sopin (27 + 6 assists), Mikhail Kulagin (23 + 7 assists), Gleb Goldyrev (22)
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Evgenii Baburin (15), Sergey Zotkin (14 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Aleksandr Chadov (14 + 5 rebounds), Artem Antipov (13 + 6 rebounds), Nemanja Djurisic (12 + 5 rebounds)

What’s next
Samara: April 9 on the road against Enisey
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: April 9 on the road against CSKA.