Nizhny Novgorod defeated Kalev at home, 102-81 (30-20, 19-14, 34-23, 19-24).
Top Scorers
Nizhny Novgorod: Ivan Strebkov (24 + 6 ast), Kenny Boynton (19), DeAndre Kane (15 + 6 reb), Siim-Sander Vene (14), Alexander Gudumak (13)
Kalev: Vitali Liutych (22), Mickell Gladness (14 + 8 reb), Demonte Harper (12), Erik Keedus (10)
Turning Point
After an 0-4 start to the season, Nizhny desperately needed a win at home against Kalev. Arturs Stalbergs’s men played like it, too.
After Demonte Harper knocked down a ‘3’ to pull Kalev within four, 24-20, Nizhny ripped off a 9-0 run, capped by DeAndre Kane’s three-point play to start the 2nd quarter.
Nizhny took a 15-point advantage into halftime and led by as much as 30 in the 3rd, cruising to a comfortable win.
Star
Ivan Strebkov. The 25-year-old Russian guard scored a season-high 24 to go with six assists. He’s now averaging 15.6 per game, exactly double his output last season.
Stat
+17 – Nizhny dominated on the glass, outrebounding the visitors, 43-26.
Quotes
Nizhny Novgorod head coach Arturs Stalbergs:
– This was a very important game for us today, given we finally managed to secure our first win in the VTB United League. From this point forward, we need to start chasing our rivals in order to earn a spot in the playoffs. Nizhny Novgorod took the first step on that journey today.
Kalev head coach Alar Varrak:
– Congratulations to Nizhny Novgorod on today’s win. I saw this team’s previous games and can say that they played their best game of the season today. For our part, this was our worst performance of the season.
Up Next
Nizhny Novgorod: November 13 at Zenit
Kalev: November 21 vs. CSKA
Snapshot
