Avtodor beat Tsmoki Minsk at home – 113:66 (32:15, 31:11, 20:20, 29:20).
Top scorers
Avtodor: Gian Clavell (22), Nikita Mikhailovskii (18), Cheick Diallo (16+11 rebounds), Nate Mason (14+6 rebounds+8 assists), Markel Starks (13+9 assists), Zeljko Sakic (10+8 rebounds+6 assists)
Tsmoki-Minsk: Yauheni Beliankou (15), Uladzislau Bliznyuk (14)
Story
After 2 February defeats (from UNICS and Nizhny Novgorod) Saratov fell of play-off zone and now aiming to get back. The game against Minsk Dragons Saratov started with 13:0 run. Minsk managed to score their first points only by the middle of the quarter. Seven consecutive points by Nikita Mikhailovskii, Nate Mason’s accurate three and hosts’ lead reached 20 points. Starting quarter ended up with Avtodor devastating advantage – 32:15.
In the second quarter Gordie Herbert team didn’t want to slow down. They powered up at defense: Tsmoki scored 15 points in the first quarter and only 11 in the second. Avtodor themselves weren’t feeling any pressure by guests. By the half time Saratov almost decided the game, +37 in hosts favor.
The second half was a simple formality. Avtodor continued to increase the gap and were aimed to break a few season-highs. By the middle of the fourth the differential was 50 points, the only intrigue left in the game, of Avtodor manage to break their season-high in scoring this season (107 against Astana). Cheick Diallo’s three helped Saratov achieve this record (they also repeated made threes season-high, 17).
Hero
Nate Mason. One of the brightest All-Star Game players became team’s leader in efficiency and could collect triple double just like Zeljko Sakic if in the second half Gordie Herbert haven’t given leading players some rest.
Stat
113 points – second best scoring in 2020/21 season (the record was set by Lokomotiv-Kuban against Zielona Gora – 114 points) and Avtodor’s season-high in scoring
Comments
Avtodor head coach Gordie Herbert:
– I like many things that happened tonight but want to note two of them: first is dedication at defense. From the very first minute it was incredible and set the tone for the rest of the game. The second one is ball movement at offense, I like the chemistry and how players found open teammates for easy baskets.
Tsmoki-Minsk head coach Rostislav Vergun:
– Congratulations to the opponent on the deserved victory. Solid bright game all around. It’s hard to say something as at each moment the opponents were more skilled and quicker. Incredible threes percentage, the pace and finishing. They had tons of open shots. It’s hard to comment on our game. It seems like this is the moment to find the roots of the problems and changes lots of aspects to stop failing in left games.
Next
Avtodor: March 7 @ Kalev
Tsmoki-Minsk: March 7 @ CSKA
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