Zenit defeated Lokomotiv Kuban at home, winning the 16th game of the season — 73:71 (22:12, 20:25, 21:15, 10:19).
Game progress
Zenit continues the pursuit CSKA and UNICS, and Loko needed win to surpass Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
The St. Petersburg team started the game with Andrey Zubkov and Caleb Homesley three-pointers and got ahead. Xavi Pascual team defense let Loko score only 12 points in the quarter, which allowed the hosts to make a double-digit lead in the first quarter — 22:12. However, in the second quarter, the guests found their rhythm. Loko newcomer DeVaugn Akoon-Purcell especially showed himself — his 10 points for the quarter helped the Krasnodar team finish the first half trailing only by 5 points.
Loko newcomer also showed himself in the third quarter, when Zenit made another run and reached a maximum lead of 17 points — 5 points of Akoon-Purcell did not allow Zenit to make the difference fatal. The St. Petersburg team had the lead before the fourth quarter – 63:52.
Key moment
The final quarter began with Loko 2 three-pointers in a row. Zenit offense stopped and the Krasnodar team began to gradually reduce the difference. Denis Zakharov injury also affected the game. After Egor Sychkov drive, the hosts lead almost melted — 72:69. 50 seconds before the end, Thomas Heurtel made only 1 out of 3 free-throws, giving Loko a chance. Another Akoon-Purcell two-pointer and Heurtel miss – 73:71 and 15 seconds left with the guests possession. However, Jaylen Barford missed a winning three-pointer. Zenit gets the 16th win of the season.
Key factor
Jaylen Barford could not prove himself in this game — only 2 out of 14 made shots. In the last possession, the American guard did not score the decisive shot.
Fact
DeVaugn Akoon-Purcell is the first player in the United League from Trinidad and Tobago. His debut was a success: he returned Loko to the game several times and shared the status of the best scorer with Thomas Heurtel.
Leaders
Zenit: Thomas Heurtel (20 + 5 rebounds + 9 assists), Richard Solomon (11 + 7 rebounds), Denis Zakharov (10)
Lokomotiv Kuban: DeVaugn Akoon-Purcell (20), Chris Horton (11), Andrey Martiuk (10 + 5 rebounds)
Next games
Zenit: road game against MBA on January 16
Lokomotiv Kuban: home game versus MINSK on January 15
