Zenit beat Lokomotiv Kuban in the 3rd Place Series Game 1 at home – 79:77 (20:17, 23:19, 15:16, 21:25).
Game progress
Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual surprised already in the opening game. Vince Hunter and Thomas Heurtel started the game on the bench. But even in the absence of their usual leaders, the hosts started the very confident. Three-pointers by Juwan Morgan, Sergey Toropov and Trent Frazier gave the St. Petersburg team an early lead – 9:4.
By the middle of the first quarter, Zenit had a 9-point lead, but the guests took the lead in the end. Andrey Martiuk, Dmitrii Uzinskii and Jaylen Barford made shots allowed Loko to cut the deficit to one shot – 17:20.
The second quarter also has a lot of actions. There was a brilliant offensive performance by Zenit Russian players (20 of the team’s 23 points), emotions by Okaro White (2 technical fouls in a row). This time the hosts looked more confident at the end of the quarter. Frazier and Sergey Karasev shots allowed Zenito have a 7-point lead by the halftime – 43:36.
After the break, the teams continued to play in the same way as in the first half. The St. Petersburg team had an 8-9 point lead, and the Krasnodar team tried to get closer. Only at the start of the final quarter Loko took the lead – 63:62. And here the teams literally switched places. The Krasnodar team took a 7-point advantage, and the hosts tied the score 2 minutes before the end – 73:73.
Key moment
The game result was decided only in the very end. Zenit guard Denis Zakharov was the hero of the game. First, 12 seconds before the end, with the score tied, he made steal and put his team ahead – 79:77. And then, in the Krasnodar team next possession, blocked Vladislav Emchenko shot and didn’t allow the opponent to save the game.
X-factor
Thomas Heurtel and Vince Hunter (10 points combined) didn’t perform well in this game. In such a situation, the Russian players supported the leaders well. Sergey Karasev had good game (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals), and Denis Zakharov was the main hero in the end. All in all, the Russians scored 36 of the St. Petersburg team 79 points.
Fact
Zenit got third straight win over Lokothis season. Only in the rivals’ third game in St. Petersburg the fans saw tight game. Before that, Loko and then Zenit had 20 and 39 points wins.
Leaders
Zenit: Trent Frazier (22), Sergey Karasev (13 + 7 rebounds), Juwan Morgan (11 + 6 rebounds).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Andrei’s Martiuk (21 + 9 rebounds), Maurice Ndour (12).
What’s next
May 27 in St. Petersburg.
