Pari Nizhny Novgorod let Samara score 60 points and won the 10th game of the season — 82:60 (18:18, 16:12, 22:15, 27:15).
Game progress
Although Pari NN lost to Samara in the first round match with a 38-point difference, over the past time Nizhny Novgorod managed to fix the game and with 9 wins in 17 games. But Samara, after a successful start, losing 4 of the last 5 games.
It was not easy to determine the favorite of the Volga Derby — the teams immediately showed that the game was going to be tight. Samara took the lead at the start, but could not hold it for a long time. The teams did not score a lot, for the entire first half the they made only 4 three-pointers. Nizhny Novgorod had better shooting percentage and ended the fist half as leaders — 34:30.
Key moment
But in the second half, the guests demonstrated that it is impossible to underestimate the importance of three-pointers: Evgenii Baburin and Nikola Rebic immediately started to score and Jermaine Love made and-one to this. In just 3 minutes, Pari NN had double—digit lead – 46:35. The guests did not calm down: Khvostov – Love – Baburin trio continued to build up the lead and the beginning of the fourth quarter Love scored 8 points in a row.
By this point, the game result was known — Pari NN defense worked perfect, allowing Samara to score almost only from the three-throws. Zoran Lukic team took revenge for the defeat in the first round and surpassed PARMA-PARI by 3 wins.
Key factor
Nizhny Novgorod team game. Although Samara surpasses Pari NN on average in assists per game (17.9 vs. 16.6), this time Zoran Lukic team did not let their opponents to pass the ball with such sequence, forcing them to make turnovers. As a result, Nizhny Novgorod almost doubled Samara in assists — 20 against 11 (with 17 turnovers by Samara).
Fact
Marcos Knight is the League leader in minutes (31.5 on average) and this time played for 33 minutes, although in the fourth quarter the result was known. At the same time, the American guard became Samara leader in scoring (18 points) and the worst in +/- (-27).
Game Leaders
Samara: Marcos Knight (18 + 6 rebounds), James Ennis (10)
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Jermaine Love (19), Nikola Rebic (16 + 5 rebounds + 6 assists), Maxim Salash (13), Evgenii Baburin (12)
Next games
Samara: road game versus Astana on January 4
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: road game against Lokomotiv Kuban on January 5
