Avtodor defeated Enisey in the road – 72:65 (16:18, 18:15, 19:14, 19:18).
Game progress
The game had started with a 6-point run by the hosts. But the Volga team quickly equalised the game. Neither team could gain a tangible advantage in a tight positional game. Not surprisingly, only one shot separated the rivals at the end of the first half. Dusan Beslac free throws allowed Avtodor to take a lead by the halftime – 34:33.
As the third quarter progressed, Avtodor managed to take the lead. Brandon Garrett dunk and Dominik Mavra and Vasilije Pusica three-pointers gave the Saratov team a double-digit lead for the first time in the game – 53:43.
Key moment
In the final quarter, the hosts tried to catch up, but Avtodor still held the lead. Aleksandr Petenev three-pointer 2.5 minutes before the end became the key one. After that, the guests lead reached 9 points – 64:55. In the remaining time, the Krasnoyarsk team decided to make one last comeback attempt, but the guest kept the winning score.
X-factor
Enisey was the League’s third-best scoring team (82.9 points per game). But Avtodor was able to stop the opponent offense. The Saratov team not only held off Xavier Rathan-Mayes (12 points, his worst performance of the season), but also shut down the hosts sharpshooters, who made only 4 of 26 three-pointers (15.4%).
Fact
Avtodor has only 1 win at home this season. On the road, the Saratov team is better and today’s win was the 6th out of 10 road games.
In the 2023, Enisey lost to only 2 teams at home. The Siberian team lost twice to CSKA and Avtodor.
Leaders
Enisey: Jeremiah Martin (23 + 7 rebounds), Mikel Hopkins (17), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (12 + 8 rebounds)
Avtodor: Aleksandr Petenev (16), Sindarius Thornwell (13), Brandon Garrett (12 + 5 rebounds), Dominik Mavra (11 + 6 rebounds + 6 assists), Rayshawn Hammonds (10 + 11 rebounds).
What’s next
Enisey (10-8): December 24 on the road versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod
Avtodor (7-11): December 24 at home against Astana.
