Lokomotiv Kuban beat UNICS at home with a 13:0 run in the final quarter and continuing to fight for the 4th place with Pari Nizhny Novgorod — 78:70 (23:20, 19:23, 18:12, 18:15).
Game progress
The game was more important for the hosts as only a win would leave the Krasnodar team in the fight for the 4th place and the home court advantage. On the other hand, UNICS, which is already guaranteed the second place wanted ho rehabilitate for February lose by 33 points.
The teams started the game very active, although both opponents did not have important players on the floor (Louis Labeyrie and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell). Throughout the first quarter, the lead changed a lot. At the end of the quarter, Jalen Reynolds turned on, but Zakhar Vedishchev returned the lead to the hosts — 23:20.
In the second quarter, the game did not change. The Kazan team managed to get a 5-point difference for a short time, Jaylen Barford allowed the hosts to immediately catch up with UNICS. By the halftime, the guests was ahead by 1 point — 43:42. The beginning of the second half was dictated by Loko. Okaro White and Zakhar Vedishchev made 2 three-pointers in a row. The third quarter was entirely left for Loko, the hosts allowed UNICS to score only 12 points.
Key moment
In the opening of the fourth quarter, UNICS managed to get ahead again — 63:60. But this seemed to exhaust the guests strength. Vedishchev, White and Barford trio broke the Kazan team defense scoring 13 points in a row. 2 minutes before the end, Loko’s lead became double-digit for the first time – 73:63. And the hosts controlled the game till the end.
Lokomotiv Kuban wins the 2nd game in a row against the Kazan team and continues to battle for the 4th place in the standings. Loko did not allow UNICS to score more than 70 points in the second game in a row.
Key factor
UNICS shooters made 1 out of 17 three-pointers. Although Loko also focused on the game in the paint, the three-pointers percentage was not so crucial – 8 out of 19.
Fact
Okaro White played against the former team. In the 2020/21 season, he became the United League vice champion with UNICS. For White, the game was the best for the Krasnodar team – he scored 15 points for the first time in the season.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: Jaylen Barford (19 + 5 assists), Zakhar Vedishchev (16), Okaro White (15 + 5 rebounds), Andrey Martiuk (13 + 7 rebounds)
UNICS: Jalen Reynolds (25 + 10 rebounds), Daryl Macon (15), Anthony Brown (10 + 7 rebounds)
Next games
Lokomotiv Kuban: road game against CSKA on March 26
UNICS: road game versus Zenit on March 26
