Nizhny Novgorod outplay Enisey at home – 104:101 (28:25, 31:29, 19:18, 26:29).
Top scorers
NIzhny Novgorod: Michael Jenkins (18), Darral Willis (15 + 5 rebounds), Pavel Antipov (14 + 7 rebounds + 6 assists), Anton Astapkovich (13), Artem Komolov (13), Aleksandr Gankevich (10).
Enisey: Davion Berry (24), Tomislav Zubcic (20 + 6 rebounds), Artem Komissarov (15), Nikola Rebic (13), Dustin Hogue (12).
Story
Gankevich and Gudumak set the mood of the game scoring 6 points apiece in the debut. The teams scored 53 points in the first quarter, and the hosts were a bit better – 28:25. Successful long-range shots and rebounds were key factors.
The teams kept the pace in the second quarter. The Siberians chose short range – by the halftime break, they’d scored 30 from the paint. Interesting point is that apart from the big men Komissarov and Hogue, Davion Berry drove to the basket as well. Nizhny stayed with their snipers which looked like right decision; 7 of 14 free throws and fire mode of Komolov and Jenkins led them to 59:54 lead.
⚡️ @BC_NN набирает 59 очков в первой половине против @BC_Enisey!
⚡️ Nizhny Novgorod scored 59 points in 1st Half vs Enisey! pic.twitter.com/Zx0YmNefrR
— VTB United League (@VTBUL) December 22, 2019
In the beginning of the third, Krasnoyarsk faced foul problems among their centers. Gudumak and Hogue were fouled out and left the court to the advantage of Darral Willis. The American felt free in the opponents’ paint and scored 8 point in the quarter to improve the team’s lead – 78:72.
Key moment
However, Enisey dominated the beginning of the final quarter. With 11 points of Berry and Zubcic, they came back to lead 84:82. The game came into the clutch where the hosts found their luck. Michael Jenkins’ three-pointer was a decisive shot. With one minute to go, he took the lead back for Nizhny – 99:97. The rest of the regulation time featured intense, but mostly scoreless competition. Good free throws by Jenkins, Astapkovich and Antipov were followed by drives of Beryy and Rebic. But it was not enough to save the game.
Hero
Michael Jenkins led NN in this game. He became team’s top scorer with 18 points, game-breaking three-pointer and perfect free throws in the last seconds of the game.
Stat
205 points scored by the teams. This is the third best of the season.
Next
Nizhny Novgorod: January 11, at Lokomotiv-Kuban
Enisey: December 27 vs UNICS
Comment
Nizhny Novgorod assistant to the head coach Nebojsa Vidic:
“I’d like to apologise for absence of Zoran Lukic – he is ill and doesn’t feel good after the game. The fans must’ve loved tonight’s game, but we can’t be happy with it. We couldn’t control the game even though we knew how dangerous Enisey’s offense is. We made errors in defense making changes.
The key moment was when we were leading by 11 in the third quarter. We should’ve increased the distance, but to the contrary we lost a number of possessions to the advantage of Enisey. It’s good we managed to save it in the end and stay focused in team defense.”
Enisey head coach Drazen Anzulovic:
“My boys were good tonight. You know it if you saw the game.”
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