Nizhny Novgorod outplayed Zielona Gora in the overtime – 108:103.
Top scorers
Zielona Gora: Joe Thomasson (29+5 assists), Jaroslaw Ziskowski (19), George King (18), Ivica Radic (14+5 rebounds), Tony Meier (10+9 rebounds)
Nizhny Novgorod: Artem Komolov (23), Brandon Brown (20+9 assists), Terell Parks (18+17 rebounds), Pavel Antipov (16+5 rebounds+5 assists), Anton Astapkovich (14), Ivan Strebkov (10+6 assists)
Story
Both teams fight for the playoffs which made this game intense. The first quarter was levelled until 8:1 run by the Polish team. However, two three-pointers in the end of the first saved the balance. And this had a negative effect on the hosts in the second period as Nizhny, despite Darral Willis’ injury. went full force in the offense and erased the margin down to minimal. And later Anton Astapkovich and Terrel Parks got the lead for NN – 41:39! Nonetheless, Zielona Gora still had the lead by the halftime, but with a modest differential of +3.
Zielona Gora reshaped their play in the third quarter applying pressure to the guests’ paint with Ivica Radic. Combined with snipers George King and Joe Thomasson, the Croatian helped his team remain in the lead throughout the whole period.
The last 5 minutes of the third turned out to be a real thriller. Zielona Gora were leading with a comfortable 81:74 on the board, but it took less than a minute for Brandon Brown and Pavel Antipov to cut it down to -2. And then Ivan Strebkov receiving the ball on the arc sank one to get the lead. Joe Thomasson matched it with a drive and provoked Parks’ foul in the next possession. 6 seconds to the end of regulation, Zielona Gora were leading by 3. It took real efforts for Strebkov to get the ball to Pavel Antipov who made it from the arc. 89;89, overtime!
Key moment
Teams were exchanging attacks in the overtime. Nizhny got the lead with two baskets by Terell Parks. And then it was Brandon Brown’s showtime. With two three-pointers, he made a 5-point lead for Nizhny, and later started getting fouled on being perfect on the line (6 of 6). The hosts had nothnig to respond. Their only chance was Thomasson’s adventurous three-pointer attempt at 105:101, but the shot was no good. Nizhny break their 3-game losing streak and get the 6th win to match the Polish team.
Hero
Brandon Brown. Even though Artem Komolov was the top scorer, and Pavel Antipov made it to the OT, the American guard was the hero of overtime getting 12 points in a row (19 by team in total). Furthermore, Brown was one assist away from elite record of 20+10.
Stat
18 three-pointers out of 42 is Nizhny’s best this season
Comment
Nizhny Novgorod head coach Zoran Lukic:
“We’ve comitted an awful lot of tactic mistakes in the first half. We allowed to many easy points. We managed to improve after the halftime break so I’m proud of my players, they deserved it.”
Zielona Gora head coach Zan Tabak:
“We can be proud of the way we fought tonight. But we can’t be proud of the fact we don’t deliver on court things that were discussed on the bench in timeouts. We gave away a victory tonight.”
Next
Zielona Gora: February 9 vs Avtodor
Nizhny Novgorod: February 10, at Khimki
