Avtodor defeated MINSK on the road – 82:62 (15:10, 26:15, 13:15, 28:22).
Game progress
The hosts scored first, but the Saratov team gradually took the lead midway through the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, Rayshawn Hammonds helped to get Avtodor a 9-point lead – 21:12. The Volga team didn’t stop there. Good defense, quick transition and leaders skills allowed the guests to increase the lead to 16 points by the halftime – 41:25.
Key moment
The second half started with the hosts’ 2 three-pointers. For a long time MINSK kept the opponents close, but no more than that. In the middle of the final quarter, the Saratov team regained a comfortable lead, and then got a win.
X-factor
Defense made a lot of difference in this game.The Saratov team skillfully dealt with the opponent offense, allowing the Belarusian team to score only 62 points.
Fact
Avtodor became the third team in Group B, which clincned in the play-in. Uralmash and Samara has made it earlier.
Dominic Mavra was just 1 point and 1 rebound away from a triple-double (9 points + 13 assists + 9 rebounds). Only 8 players in the League history have this unique achievement.
Leaders
MINSK: Jovan Sljivancanin (16 + 8 rebounds), Dzmitry Kuratnik (10).
Avtodor: Rayshawn Hammonds (20 + 7 rebounds), Sindarius Thornwell (15 + 6 rebounds), Malik Newman (14 + 6 rebounds), Dominic Mavra (9 + 13 assists + 9 rebounds).
What’s next
MINSK (1-36): April 6 at home against Pari Nizhny Novgorod
Avtodor (18-19): April 7 on the road versus Samara.
