MBA defeated Pari Nizhny Novgorod on the road – 68:50 (15:15, 19:6, 17:9, 17:20).
Game progress
The first quarter already showed that the game was unlikely to be very effective. The teams played at a low pace – Nizhny looked for three-point chances, while MBA replied with points in the paint. However, in the second quarter, the Moscow team took the lead. In the absence of Dmitrii Khvostov, Nizhny offense fell apart – the Volga team scored only 6 points in the quarter, while allowing the guests to score 19. By the end of the first half, Vasiliy Karasev team had a comfortable lead – 34:21.
Key moment
Zoran Lukic failed to adjust the game, and it stayed the same. In the third quarter, the Volga team again failed to score more than 10 points. Toward the end of the quarter, young Ismailov brought the guests’ lead to 20 points – 49:29. Nizhny failed to start a comeback, and the final quarter turned into a formality.
MBA ended a five-game losing streak and moved 2 wins away from Nizhny Novgorod.
X-factor
The Moscow team showed the best defensive play this season – the previous season-high was 54 points against MINSK. MBA defense managed to completely shut down Nizhny offense – the Volga team had 26.7% made shots from the game. Only one Nizhny Novgorod player managed to score more than 10 points, and two starters (Vladimir Ivlev and Andrey Vorontsevich) never managed to made a single shot.
Fact
Nizhny Novgorod has never beaten MBA at home – 4 losses out of 4.
The Moscow team’s 43 rebounds is the second-best of the season (the season-high is 46 versus MINSK).
Leaders
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Kasey Shepherd (21)
MBA: Daniil Kasatkin (15 + 6 rebounds), Vladislav Trushkin (11), Andrey Lopatin (10 + 7 rebounds).
What’s next
Pari Nizhny Novgorod (7-20): March 1 on the road versus Uralmash
MBA (9-19): March 1 at home against Samara.
