Zenit will host Lokomotiv Kuban in the Game of the Week on Saturday.
Place: Russia, St. Petersburg, CSC Arena
Time: January 11, 2025, 15:30 (Moscow time)
Broadcast: Match TV, Start Triumph, League website
Rivalry
The Top 4 teams have managed to exchange road wins this season. On October 6, Loko won in St. Petersburg (83:76), while Zenit got revenge in Krasnodar on November 3 (77:71).
Last season, the teams played for the 3rd place. The St. Petersburg team won the series 3-1.
The teams have played 34 games, Zenit has a slight lead in rivalry history score – 18:16.
Last year’s regular season series ended 2-2. Lokomotiv Kuban won twice in the first half, but then lost in February and April.
Motivation
Zenit gained a strong momentum towards the end of the year and made a 12-game winning streak – currently season-high. On December 18, the streak had ended: the St. Petersburg team lost at home to UNICS. On January 5, the situation repeated in Kazan. Head coach Xavier Pascual emphasized the importance of following game versus Samara – the team planned to correct the mistakes in the game and return to winning. But win against the Volga team was only a small step and the game versus Loko will give full confidence.
Lokomotiv also has its own kryptonite team – PARMA, the season series is currently 0-3. The loss on January 4 in Krasnodar overshadowed the wins over CSKA and Pari NN. The trip to St. Petersburg is a great opportunity to rehabilitate.
Conclusions
The loss against PARMA forced head coach Andrei Vedischev to raise some serious questions.
– After today’s game, one very important question came to light once again: why do some players on our team get playing time? Apparently, they misjudge and misunderstand my trust. There is no progress. It’s time to draw conclusions.
Strengthening
Toward the end of 2024, Loko signed Aleksandr Gudumak, who started the season with Samara. The forward signed a contract until the end of the 2025/26 season.
In 14 VTB League games, Gudumak averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks in 24 minutes. He can debut exactly in the Game of the Week.
Joker
The game against UNICS was Denis Zakharov season-best: 17 points and 4 rebounds with 3 of 4 field-goals made and 8 of 10 free-throws. The guard was in the starting lineup versus Samara, but couldn’t finish the game due to injury. He was supported by Aleksandr Scherbenev, who scored 17 points and 3 assists. What can we expect from the former Lokomotiv Kuban players on Saturday?
Duel
Xavier Moon vs. Patrick Miller.
Moon and Miller are the leaders of their teams this season. Among Zenit players, Moon is first in assists (4.9), second in scoring (13.0) and third in rebounds (4.2) and steals (1.1). Patrick leads Lokomotiv in points (14.7), assists (5.3) and is second in steals (1.3).
The guards ranks among the season’s Top 10 in scoring with 17.2 by Moon (9th) and 18.6 by Miller (5th). Both are making it into Team of the Week.
Numbers
Zenit (88.2 points) and Lokomotiv (85.9) are in the Top 3 bests scoring teams (rank 2nd and 3rd).
Loko leads the League in rebounding (38.9 per game).
Zenit loses the ball the least – 11.0 turnovers per game.
