Avtodor managed to stop PARMA-PARI, won its 15th game of the season and clinched the play-offs – 85:59 (26:24, 24:10, 14:16, 21:9).
Game progress
Winning the last game against Samara significantly improved Avtodor’s playoff chances. The Volga team had to defeat an unmotivated PARMA-PARI at home. The Saratov team was the favorite of the game.
Surprisingly, the game began with guests shooting streak. Just 2.5 minutes after the start, Avtodor head coach Branislav Vicentic was forced to take a timeout. By that time the gap was already double-digit – 2:12.
This time-out helped the home team. Evgeniy Kolesnikov, Evgeniy Minchenko and Sean Armand made 2 threes to lead Avtodor to a comeback. The first quarter ended with Nikita Mikhailovskii fast-break which brought the Volga team ahead for the first time in the game – 26:24. Avtodor started the second quarter better. While the Perm team tried to find their shot, the hosts still had the lead. After Evgeniy Kolesnikov three-pointers, Avtodor led by 19 points – 48:29, and the Volga team had a 16-point lead by the halftime – 50:34.
Key moment
After the halftime, the Perm team was able to make a comeback. Gleb Sheiko and Kirill Popov made shots cut the lead to 9 points – 50:59. But the game had no intrigue. The Saratov team shooters started to score at the decisive moment. Mikhailovskii and Armand made shots sealed the game. Avtodor had a 21-point lead – 73:52, and then the Volga team secured a comfortable win.
Key factor
Avtodor made 16 three-pointers (16 of 35 – 45.7%). For this result the team got the team high this season and showed the second result in the season.
Fact
Avtodor became the last team in the League, which joined the Top-8. The Saratov team opponent in the quarterfinals will be CSKA.
Leaders
Avtodor: Evgeniy Minchenko (16), Danilo Nikolic (12 + 6 rebounds), Evgeniy Kolesnikov (12), Malik Newman (12 + 9 rebounds), Nikita Mikhailovskii (10), Brandon Garrett (10 + 8 rebounds), Sean Armand (9 + 9 assists)
PARMA-PARI: Ryan Boatwright (12), Gleb Sheiko (8)
