Loko win in Krasnoyarsk but lose Williams

Loko win in Krasnoyarsk but lose Williams

Lokomotiv-Kuban beat Enisey on the road – 106:79 (28:24, 23:22, 19:17, 36:16).

Top scorers
Enisey: Leyton Hammonds (15), Dustin Hogue (15 + 11 rebounds), Mikhail Kulagin (11 + 7 assists), Tyus Battle (11).
Lokomtoiv-Kuban: Alan Williams (24 + 13 rebounds + 4 steals), Jordan Crawford (22 + 7 assists), Will Cummings (22), Stanislav Ilnitskiy (14).

Story
The main task for the guests was to top Mikhail Kulagin. The start of the game was in Kuban’s favour. Enisey leader rarely had the ball, that let Krasnodar take the lead in the game. Unexpectedly, the main Loko’s offensive option was Stanislav Ilnitskiy who scored 8 points -14:6. Sibir pulled themselves together only after a series  of substitutions. Hosts’ bench players scored 16 points and cut the gap to -4 points – 21:25.

Another Loko’s run was started by Will Cummings and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. After Lithuanian’s three hosts’ advantage turned double digits – 40:28. However, Siberians had their hero too. Enisey’s come back was led by Leyton Hammonds. The forward finished a few important possessions, and few times even bad shot selections went in – 44:44. Nevertheless, the ending of the first half was in Krasnodar’s favour. Another Cummings’ splash let Kuban finish the first half as leaders – 51:46.

As usual, a new quarter started with guests run. This time Alan Williams shined – 64:51. Krasnoyarsk tried to make another comeback, Mikhail Kulagin’s awakening helped it. However, Loko led by boards-dominating Williams (22 points + 12 rebounds) managed to create a significant lead by the final quarter – 70:63.

Key moment
The decisive run by guests happened in the beginning of the final quarter. It took less than 4 minutes for Kuban to score 15 (!) points. After another Jordan Crawford three the gap increased to +20 – 85:65. Enisey head coach Drazen Anzulovich tried to brake the game with the help of time outs but unsuccessfully. In the rest time the most memorable moment was Alan Williams injury. In the fast break the center landed badly and was helped leaving the floor. Even without its leader Loko made it to the confident victory.

Hero
Alan Williams couldn’t finish the game because of injury. But still he became the top scorer of the game (24 points) and top rebounder (13), stealer (4) and the most efficient player (29).

Stat
Loko came to Krasnoyarsk as one of the worst teams in three-point percantage (15th place – 33,6%). The Siberians led the League in this indicator (44,2%). In the game Kuban outclassed the rivals in threes – efficiently (46% – 26%) and in numbers (12 – 5).

Comments
Enisey head coach Drazen Anzulovich:
– Loko was better all game long. We played bad at defense although we knew they had lots of strong individual players – Crawford, Williams, Cummings, Kuzminskas, Kalnietis. We prepared to play tight D and sharp offense but couldn’t control the game all the 40 minutes. In the end of the third we were close but the fourth was awful, lacked concentration, motivation.

Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin:
–  In Krasnoyarsk it always hard to play. After the big break Loko players became more attentive in defense, started to help each other, move the ball. In the final quarter we found our game and the guys did good, became playing team basketball and drained their open shots. Congratulations to the team on the win but we still see that the job is not done.

Next
Enisey: December 6 at Zielona Gora 
Lokomotiv-Kuban: December 5 vs PARMA

Photo 22/11/2020 Enisey-Lokomotiv 79:106