Pari Nizhny Novgorod defeated PARMA-PARI at home, securing the 5th place at the first stage of the regular season – 78:73 (24:11, 20:26, 16:17, 18:19).
Game progress
Pari Nizhny Novgorod (11-9) and PARMA-PARI (8-12) were at the 5th and 8th places in the standings.
Nizhny started the game in the dominant style. After 6 minutes, the hosts led 16:3, ended the quarter with the score 24:11. But Justin Roberson made shots returned the Perm team to the game.
By the halftime, PARMA-PARI managed to trail by 7. The Perm team started the third quarter with a 10:0 run in 4 minutes and took the lead. And then the Volga team started to demonstrate character: a 14:2 run allowed NN to end the third quarter as a leader – 58:53.
Key moment
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Evgenii Baburin scored a three and soon Maksim Salash made an and-one – 72:59. As a result, the classic ending did not happen: Nizhny maintained concentration and kept the opponent at a safe difference. In the last minute, PARMA-PARI decided not to foul, but NN showed excellent ball movement. Aleksandr Chadov removed all questions about the winner with a dunk 20 seconds before the end.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod guaranteed at least the 5th place at the end of the first stage of the regular season.
Key factor
Dragan Apic repeated his second best in points scored in the VTB League – 19 (7 of 14 from the game), with 8 rebounds and 3 steals in just 18 minutes. The extraordinary efficiency of the Serbian bigman helped the hosts to win.
Fact
If we understood our mistakes with CSKA, then we should show our real face at the Sunday game.”
In the previous game with CSKA, Nizhny Novgorod lost by 30 at home. Zoran Lukic made it clear before the game with the Perm team that his team needed to rehabilitate in front of the fans. PARMA-PARI is a great opponent for NN. In the November game in Perm, the Volga team was up by 19, but they allowed the opponents to make the biggest comeback of the season. So Pari NN played with super motivation.
Leaders
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Dragan Apic (19 + 8 rebounds + 3 steals), Aleksandr Chadov (13 + 5 rebounds), Maksim Salash (11), Dmitriy Khvostov (6 + 5 assists)
PARMA-PARI: Justin Roberson (22 + 3 steals), Isaiah Reese (12 + 6 assists), Aleksandr Platunov (10), Malik Dime (9 + 8 rebounds + 2 blocks)
Next games
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: road game against MBA on January 19
PARMA-PARI: home game versus Enisey on January 19
