Avtodor outplay Lokomotiv on the road – 76:74 (18:19, 21:24, 21:15, 16:16)
Top scorers
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Mindaugas Kuzminskas (19+6 rebounds+5 assists), Johnny O’Bryant (17+6 rebounds), Sam Dekker (13+6 rebounds), Will Cummings (11)
Avtodor: Elgin Cook (22+7 rebounds), Isaiah Hicks (18+7 rebounds), Markel Starks (13+5 rebounds)
Story
Teams were balanced in the first half. In the starting quarter, the lead was changing constantly. It was only in the last moments of the half when Sam Dekker led Lokomotiv to make a 6:2 run and 43:39 before the break.
Recently appointed Avtodor coach Predrag Krunic significantly changed team’s tactics in the break. Saratov started tighter defense not allowing a single basket for 5 minutes. With a 14:2 run Avtodor gained a solid lead 54:45. However, Mindaugas Kuzminskas stepped up scoring 6 points in a row to pace up his teammates. As a result, Loko started the chase and were trailing by only 2 after three quarters – 60:58.
Key moment
The lead was changing during the final quarter, no side could surpass the distance of 3-point lead. And the last seconds were dramatic. 14 seconds to the buzzer, Lokomotiv were leading by 1 and having a possession. Dmitriy Kulagin made shot from beyond the arc, but it was no good. Avtodor got the ball Starks who made a three-pointer with a cold blood. Saratov take the lead 76:74!
Home team had only one second to respond. The ball was delivered to Mindaugas Kuzminskas, the Lithuanian made a fake shot to send Alexey Babushkin in the air and drilled a three-pointer which was supposed to save his team. Nonetheless, a split second was between Kuzminskas and a game-winner. The shot was no good as Loko forward released the ball after the buzzer. Predrag Krunic makes his debut in Avtodor with a comeback.
Hero
Elgin Cook. Although Markel Starks scored a game-winner, Cook remained stable during the whole game, fired up Saratov’s run in the third quarter and finished as game’s top scorer with 22 points.
Stat
22 lead changes in this thriller.
Comment
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Bogdan Karaicic:
“The coach is always to blame if you lose in such an ending. I have to analyze the game and draw conclusions to know what to improve before meeting Partizan in Eurocup. We want to win and compete for Top 16”
Avtodor head coach Predrag Krunic:
“It was a good game with a strong rival. The guys worked hard last ten days and proved they can fight to the end, show intensity during the whole game in both offense and defense. We have great potential, we can improve, but today I’m glad how the team performed in a clutch moment. We’ll pace up and improve our standings”
Next
Lokomotiv-Kuban: December 14 vs PARMA
Avtodor: December 14 vs Nizhny Novgorod
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