Zenit defeated PARMA at home – 105:90 (27:24, 24:26, 29:27, 25:13).

Game progress
From the very first minutes, the game was more focused on offense. Dwayne Bacon and Georgy Zhbanov had a good stretch. Stanley Whittaker, Garrett Nevels and Samson Ruzhentsev led the guests and scored 37 points combined.

Such basketball delighted fans, but did not give either team an advantage. In the first half of the game, the difference between the rivals was 6 points maximum. The St. Petersburg team took the lead by halftime – 50-51.

At the start of the third quarter, the guests tried to get away. A 12-point run gave PARMA a comfortable lead – 62:53. But the St. Petersburg team was able to stop the Perm team momentum. Alexey Shved led Zenit  with 4 three-pointers made. The hosts regained the lead before the final quarter – 80:77.

Key moment
In the final quarter, the hosts added aggression in defense, which immediately brought results. The St. Petersburg tean gradually began to get away. After Alex Poythress slam with 2.5 minutes before the end, Zenit achieved double-digit lead for the first time in the game – 98:88. Xavier Pascual team did not let this lead slip away and got the win.

X-factor
Three-pointers were the key to Zenit win in this game. The hosts scored 17 of 28 three-pointers (60.7%).

Facts
Today win guaranteed Zenit 1st place in the regular season.

Zenit has already won 19 consecutive game. Only CSKA had more consecutive wins in the 2022/23 season (24 wins).

Alexey Shved made a double-double for the first time for Zenit – 19 points + 10 assists.

PARMA forward Samson Ruzhentsev scored career-high 29 points.

Leaders
Zenit: Alexey Shved (19 + 10 assists), Alex Poythress (18 + 6 rebounds), Trent Frazier (17 + 6 assists), Georgy Zhbanov (15), Sergey Karasev (13), Dwayne Bacon (13).
PARMA: Samson Ruzhentsev (29), Stanley Whittaker (21 + 7 assists), Garrett Nevels (21).

What’s next
Zenit: April 12 on the road against Astana.
PARMA: April 12 at home versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod