Pari Nizhny Novgorod defeated MBA-MAI at home – 79:74 (20:16, 25:19, 14:15, 20:24).
Game progress
The game start was equal. The teams demonstrated positional offense and good ball movement, exchanging points. Nizhny Novgorod managed to create a small advantage with pick-and-rolls. In the second quarter, the hosts improved the three-point shooting. Sergei Kozin team had the lead by halftime – 45:35.
Key moment
In the second half, the teams continued to fight, exchanging small runs. By the start of the final quarter, the Moscow team had reduced the deficit to 9 points.
The hosts made a 9-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter and began to slow down the pace. Vasily Karasev team was unable to get their offense going, but active full-court press to get closer to opponents. With 6 seconds left, the guests cut the deficit to 5 points, but Nizhny Novgorod managed to hold on for the win.
X-factor
Long-range shots helped Pari Nizhny Novgorod secure the win. The hosts demonstrated good three-point shooting – 44% (11 of 25), while the guests shot 31% (6 of 19).
Facts
Rivalry history score: 11-4, MBA-MAI leads. The previous 3 games were won by the guests.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod has the best free throw shooting percentage in the League this season – 79.8%.
Dmitrii Khvostov had new season-high 17 points.
Leaders
Pari NN: Dmitrii Khvostov (17), Ilya Karpenkov (16 + 6 rebounds), Norbert Lukacz (14), Alexander Khomenko (10), Sergei Zotkin (10)
MBA-MAI: Maksim Barashkov (15), Andrey Zubkov (14), Evgeny Voronov (10 + 5 assists)
What’s next
Pari NN: February 4 at home against Lokomotiv Kuban
MBA-MAI: February 4 on the road versus Samara.
