Lokomotiv Kuban will host Zenit in the Game of the Week.
Place: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Time: March 7, 2023, 20:00 (Moscow time)
Broadcast: TV Start Triumph, Match! Igra, League website
Rivalry
Lokomotiv Kuban and Zenit played 23 games in the VTB United League, Loko is ahead 12-11.
In the 2021/22 season, Zenit won both games — 106:79 on the road and 91:75 at home. The Krasnodar team could not beat their rivals from St. Petersburg for a long time – but everything changed at the SuperCup 2022: the team won the group stage game (74:73), and Jaylen Barford scored the winning shot.
In the playoffs, the teams met only once – in the 2018/19 season. In the decisive stage, Zenit, despite Loko home court advantage was better – 3-1.
This season
In the 2022/23 season, the teams played 3 times and every game was unpredictable.
At the first stage of the regular season, Zenit won twice, but at the same time Loko was close to comebacks. In November, Loko led by 4 by the halftime, then missed a 1-29 run and fell trailed by 21 — but was able to make a comeback and equalize the score in the final quarter. The Krasnodar team could win, but Trey Tompkins made a rebound and got the winning shot.
2 months after, Loko visited St. Petersburg, where the game had similar scenario – Zenit led by 17 points in the second half. But, apparently, even such a large advantage is not a guarantee for win. Loko throughout the 4th quarter gradually reduced the difference. Finally, at the very end, the guests had a chance: 2-point difference and 15 seconds for a saving or winning possession. Jaylen Barford decided to shoot a three-pointer, but missed.
The third game of the season was slightly different from the previous 2. Loko had the lead for a long time. However, the St. Petersburg team did not allow the opponents to go further and as a result the game result was decided in the end.
Royce Hamm, who played his first game for Zenit, equalised the score twice, returning hope to the fans. 5 seconds before the end of regulation, Jaylen Barford almost lost the ball after the Zenit players doubled-team him, but found Vladislav Emchenko. He coolly made a mid-range shot, and Trey Tompkins missed three-pointer for the win.
Loko won in St. Petersburg for the first time since 2019.
What was next?
Since the end of January, both teams have played 5 games in the second stage. Zenit won 4, Loko – 3.
At the same time, the St. Petersburg team became the first team of the season to beat CSKA – 90:86 in Moscow. Trent Frazier made his debut for Zenit in this game and immediately became the best scoring player in the team (15 points).
Surprisingly, a week later, Xavi Pascual team lost to Pari NN – 70:79. The All-Star break helped the reigning champion: UNICS was defeated on the road (80:69), and Nizhny Novgorod (83:67) was defeated also.
Loko, on the other hand, went to Kazan less than a week after St. Petersburg trip, where the team beat UNICS – 103:70. After that, the Krasnodar team got defeated by Pari NN (80:82) and CSKA (98:66). Just before the All-Star Game, Loko beat MBA twice in a row.
Standings position
With 4 wins in the last 5 games, Zenit continues to keep its chances of 2nd place. However, it will not be easy for the St. Petersburg team to rise higher in the standings: the team need not just to defeat UNICS, but at the same time hope that the Kazan team will lose remaining games.
Loko still has theoretical chances for the 3rd place, where Zenit is now. But much more relevant is the fight with Pari NN for the 4th place, which the teams now share with the same stats (16-12).
Injuries
Thomas Heurtel will not help the team – he continues to recover from injury. Adrien Moerman and Denis Zakharov will also miss the game.
Loko has no one injured – Aleksander Sekulic team is ready.
