Zenit beat Uralmash at home – 98:82 (27:16, 30:23, 25:22, 16:21).
Game progress
At the start of the game, the guests built the offense through isolations, but only Octavius Ellis managed to score – the center made 8 of the team’s first 10 points. “Zenit, on the other hand, traditionally played in a team style. After pick-and-rolls series and Thomas Heurtel 3 long-range shots, the lead became double-digit – 27:16. Uralmash problems worsened when Ellis went to the bench. The offense stopped working, and the St. Petersburg team continued to make three-pointers, and had 9 long-range shots after 20 minutes. Toward the end of the first half, Ellis returned and scored 10 more points, but it didn’t affect the guests at all – the hosts held a comfortable lead by the halftime – 57:39.
Zenit started the second half with an 11:0 run, getting closer to 30-point difference. The guests still had contested shots, but Aleksandr Zakharov and Javonte Douglas were able to close the deficit a bit. However, Uralmash didn’t have enough energy to make a comeback, as the St. Petersburg team systematically scored points and used a wide rotation. Xavi Pascual team confidently took the win in the Game 1.
X-factor
The St. Petersburg team demonstrated outstanding long-range shooting, making 46% three-pointers. Most of the shots (9 of 13) were in the first half, giving Zenit a comfortable lead by halftime.
Fact
Zenit and Uralmash ended the regular season with long winning streaks: the Yekaterinburg team won the last 9 games, and the St. Petersburg team had 5.
Leaders
Zenit: Vince Hunter (19), Thomas Heurtel (18 + 8 assists), Georgy Zhbanov (14).
Uralmash: Octavius Ellis (30 + 6 rebounds), Aleksandr Zakharov (13), Javonte Douglas (13), Tyrell Nelson (12 + 8 rebounds).
What’s next
April 24 in St. Petersburg.
