Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Zenit in St. Petersburg – 117:98 (28:30, 23:16, 32:15, 34:37).
Game progress
The Game of the Week started brightly. The hosts’ 7:2 run was responded by the Krasnodar team. Zenit took a 5-6-point lead several times, but Vladislav Emchenko (12 points in the first quarter) kept the St. Petersburg team from securing a comfortable lead. In the second quarter, the pace and efficiency slowed, which helped Loko to gain the lead by the halftime – 51:46.
Loko pushed the pace to the limit in the second half and Zenit was stunned. The hosts situation was complicated by Dwayne Bacon’s 3 fouls in the first half. Andrei Martiuk gave the guests a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, but that was just the beginning. The Krasnodar team completely dominated with a 27:3 run.
Key moment
Before the final quarter, Xavier Pascual managed to make adjustments to Zenit game. Xavier Moon took the lead. After an explosive third quarter, Loko players were noticeably tired and Zenit began to take advantage of the opponent mistakes more often. However, the hosts didn’t have enough time for a comeback, as Emchenko and Antonius Cleveland important shots finally put the game to an end.
X-factor
The Krasnodar team benchers duo played a crucial role in the game, as Vladislav Emchenko and Dmitrii Uzinskii combined for 34 points. Georgy Zhbanov had the best scoring game of the season for Zenit, but the team didn’t have another active player on the bench.
Facts
Lokomotiv Kuban repeated season-high117 points (UNICS scored the same against MBA-MAI). Loko also holds the season-high 127 points against Astana.
The rivals beat each other on the road for the third time in a row. Zenit won in Krasnodar, Loko – 2 wins in St. Petersburg. The Krasnodar team scored 100 or more points in St. Petersburg for the first time in rivalry history.
Xavier Moon scored season-high 32 points in the VTB League.
Leaders
Zenit: Xavier Moon (32 + 7 assists), Georgy Zhbanov (17 + 7 rebounds), Dwayne Bacon (15), Alex Poythress (13 + 7 rebounds).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Antonius Cleveland (25 + 7 rebounds + 5 assists + 3 steals), Patrick Miller (23 + 5 rebounds + 9 assists), Vladislav Emchenko (19), Dmitrii Uzinskii (15), Kirill Temirov (13), Aleksandr Gudumak (10), Andrei Martiuk (9 + 5 rebounds).
What’s next
Zenit: January 15 at home versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod
Lokomotiv Kuban: January 14 on the road against Samara.
