Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Pari Nizhny Novgorod at home – 93:78 (23:17, 11:17, 31:20, 28:24)
Game progress
Loko briefly let the guests to take the lead (13:6), but corrected this by the end of the first quarter with a 17:2 run.
The hosts’ long-range shots became a problem. By halftime, Loko had missed 12 of 15 attempts and was forced to start all over again in the second half (34:34). Nizhny lost the ball more (8-3), but compensated for this with better rebounding (21-14).
The third quarter began with a close contest, the lead changed 7 times. With 4 minutes to go, Loko took a double-digit lead for the first time. In one quarter, the hosts also pulled ahead in rebounds (15-5 in 10 minutes).
The balance finally shifted to Krasnodar team, who confidently took the win.
X-factor
Patrick Miller stepped up at the right moment in the second half. The guard finished the game with 20 points (7 of 12 field goals made, 2 of 3 three-pointers made) and 6 assists.
Fact
Shane Gatling set a new season high 30 points.
Pari NN ended a three-season streak of 2 wins at the start.
The teams made their first 26 free throws of the game.
Nizhny Novgorod newcomer Norbert Lukacs scored his first points in the VTB League (4), but has yet to make a field goal attempt.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: Patrick Miller (20 + 6 assists), Kassius Robertson (17 + 6 rebounds), Vince Hunter (10 + 5 rebounds)
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Shane Gatling (30), Alexander Khomenko (16), Kirill Popov (15 + 7 rebounds)
What’s next
Lokomotiv Kuban: October 12 on the road against MBA-MAI
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: October 9 at home against MBA-MAI.
