Nizhny Novgorod defeated Zielona Gora on road— 95:77 (33:16, 21:30, 19:15, 22:16).
The best scorers
Zielona Gora: Nemanja Nenadic (20 + 9 rebounds + 6 assists + 3 steals), Jaroslaw Zyskowski (20 + 6 rebounds), Dragan Apic (16 + 9 rebounds), Branden Frazier (11)
Nizhniy Novgorod: Ilya Platonov (19), Mikhail Kulagin (15 + 5 rebounds), Pavel Antipov (11) Sergey Toropov (11 + 6 assists), Ivan Strebkov (10 + 5 assists)
Game progress
Zelena Gura has not won this season yet and was eager to present the fans with their first W. However, the start of the game was shocking for the hosts. The 9:0 run immediately indicated Nizhny Novgorod intentions, and by the middle of the first quarter, the guests had already secured a double digit advantage, which lasted until the break — 33:16. Nizhny Novgorod snipers showed stability with six three-pointers in a quarter.
But it was too early for Zoran Lukic’s team to relax. Nemanja Nenadic, Branden Frazier and Dragan Apic staged a real siege on the opponents’ rim, which led to the hosts’ comeback. After another hit by Apic, the difference was reduced to only five, and later to three points – 43:40. And yet the end of the quarter remained for the guests – two long-range shots by Pavel Antipov. 54:46 to the big break.
😯 Nemanja Nenadic scores in fast break, @basket_zg comes back in 2nd quarter! pic.twitter.com/ufWkzzPGOk
— VTB League (@VTBUL) October 25, 2021
For the second half, Zielona Gora came out with a fighting spirit and continued the chase. Apic and-one, his own two points from the paint — and Nizhny advantage was reduced to almost a minimum – 56:54.
The key moment
But Nizhny Novgorod snipers were on a roll that evening. Two shots from behind the arc from Mikhail Kulagin cooled the hosts’ ardor. By the end of the third 10-minutes, Nizhny regained a double-digit advantage, and in the fourth quarter, the long-range artillery of the Volga team showed again – first Kulagin, and then Ilya Platonov. After Platonov’s shot, the difference was already 20 points guests lead— the Polish team no longer had time and energy for another comeback. Nizhny Novgorod got the second win this season and the first for Zoran Lukic after his appointment as head coach of the Russian national team.
Hero
Ilya Platonov. In a game incident with his own teammate, the young forward broke his head and played with a bandage until the end of the game. But this did not affect its accuracy in any way. Having given out 4 out of 4 from behind the arc, Platonov became Nizhny Novgorod the most resultative player and beat his own points best (15 points) with a margin.
Numbers
17 accurate three-pointers from Nizhny is a new season record. Prior to that, the maximum score was 15 shots from behind the arc performed by Avtodor in the game against Tsmoki.
Comments
Oliver Vidin, Zielona Gora Head Coach:
– We didn’t start very badly, but Nizhny scored a lot of three-pointers with a high percentage. Congratulations to our rivals, they were better today and deserved to win. Our team fought, we didn’t give up, but we still need to work if you want to win games in the VTB League. We need to adjust to the level of aggressiveness and physical struggle in this League.
Zoran Lukic, Nizhny Novgorod Head Coach:
– I have to congratulate my players. They knew why we came here today and that it was very important for us to win. Good attitude and character, especially Mikhail Kulagin, playing with a broken finger, and Ilya Platonov, who was injured, but continued to fight. Sergey Toropov also played well – he actually acted great.
What’s next
Zielona Gora: October 31 at home against Tsmoki-Minsk
Nizhny Novgorod: November 8 at home against PARMA
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