Lokomotiv Kuban defeated UNICS at home – 90:82 (25:17, 23:24, 19:28, 23:13).
Game progress
The game was equal midway through the first quarter, but then the hosts began to gradually take the lead. Patrick Miller efforts led to an 8:2 run in 2 minutes, and at the start of the second quarter had a double-digit lead – 27:17. From that point until the halftime, the game followed the scenario – UNICS tried to catch up, while Loko repeatedly regained a 10-point lead.
However, UNICS transformed in the second half. Erick Green led his team with 11 points in the third quarter. Jalen Reynolds backed it up with 8 points, and the hosts lead began to fade quickly. A few seconds before the end of the third quarter, Green put UNICS ahead for the first time in this game and the Kazan team started the final quarter as the leader – 69:67.
Key moment
Loko started the final quarter confidently. Miller and Kiril Temirov helped the team regain the lead, and then DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell got involved. Jalen Barford three-pointers seriously complicated the situation for UNICS – 90:79. With a 1.5 minute left, Reynolds tried to put the game back with a long-range shot, but Loko defense didn’t allow the guests to score any more points.
With the 22nd win of the season, the Krasnodar team push Zenit out of the Top 3.
X-factor
Loko win was predetermined by UNICS turnovers, which the Krasnodar team tried to use. The hosts were much more careful with the ball – 8 vs. 16 turnovers.
Fact
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell set a new career-high 6 steals and got second-high in the United League this season.
Patrick Miller made his League debut (9 points, 6 assists).
Nenad Dimitrijevic had his third double-double of the season.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (25 + 5 rebounds + 6 steals), Kirill Elatontsev (12 + 7 rebounds), Jaylen Barford (10), Maurice Ndour (10), Patrick Miller (9 + 6 assists).
UNICS: Erick Green (24), Jalen Reynolds (19), Nenad Dimitrijevic (12 + 12 assists), Louis Labeyrie (12 + 6 rebounds).
What’s next
Lokomotiv Kuban (22-10): April 1 on the road against CSKA
UNICS (25-8): March 30 at home versus PARMA.
