UNICS defeated Samara in the Quarterfinals Game 3 on the road – 90:67 (24:20, 20:22, 20:14, 26:11).
Game progress
The teams started the game without any hesitation. There was no clear leader in the opening quarter. But midway through the first quarter, Louis Labyrie and Dmitriy Kulagin made the guests lead double-digit – 18:8.
Samara was able to quickly equalise the game and gradually began to cut the deficit. At the end of the second quarter, the hosts even took the lead after Javontae Hawkins hade shot – 40:39. But the Kazan team still had the last word in the quarter. Labeyrie gave UNICS the lead back before the halftime – 44:42.
Key moment
The third quarter began with a 7-point run by Samara. But the guests regained the lead with Labeyrie, Dmitriy Kulagin and Nenad Dimitrijevic long-range shots. They did not stop there and continued to increase the lead. UNICS regained a double-digit advantage before the fourth quarter – 66:56. The hosts had no more energy left for another comeback, and the Kazan team got confident win.
X-factor
Louis Labeyrie is in great shape for the Playoffs. In the last 2 games, the forward has been UNICS’ best scorer. In today’s game, the French bigman had his second double-double of the season (17 points + 12 rebounds).
Fact
UNICS became the third team to secure a spot in the Semifinals. The Kazan team will face Lokomotiv Kuban for a spot in the Finals.
Leaders
Samara: Javontae Hawkins (12), Aleksandr Gudumak (12), Rade Zagorac (10).
UNICS: Louis Labeyrie (17 + 12 rebounds), Jalen Reynolds (17 + 8 rebounds + 5 steals), Nenad Dimitrijevic (15 + 7 assists), Marcos Knight (13), Erick Green (10 + 5 rebounds).
