UNICS defeated Lokomotiv Kuban at home – 80:76 (24:12, 18:21, 14:20, 24:23).
Game progress
Before the game, it became known that Loko leader DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell would not participate in the game. The absence of the team’s key player was immediately noticeable, as UNICS easily handled the guests offense. An 8:2 run by the hosts led to an early Loko timeout, and 9 straight points by Nenad Dimitrijevic gave UNICS a double-digit lead – 22:9.
In the second quarter, however, Loko began to confirm its reputation of one of the top comeback team int the United League. A 17-point difference didn’t fear the guests. By halftime, Loko managed to cut the score to 9 points (42-33). In the third quarter, Loko defense started to work in full force. The fact that UNICS MVP of February Dmitry Kulagin was injured and left the court after playing just over 10 minutes also played a role. After winning the quarter, Aleksander Sekulic team gradually closed the gap, and after another shot by Okaro White, the game was tied 51:51.
Key moment
The final quarter had a lot of pauses. UNICS continued to stay ahead, but Loko was constantly replied with Jaylen Barford shots. In addition, the guests managed to take Ismael Bako out of the game with his 5th foul.
Still, the hosts took the lead in the end. Dimitrijevic scored an important and-one, and then gave an assist to Jalen Reynolds. Jaylen Barford still managed to cut the difference to one possession, but Marcos Knight made a free throw after Loko foul, and Barford desperate three-pointer was blocked by Viacheslav Zaitsev. UNICS 6th consecutive win puts the team in first place.
X-factor
Loko ranks among the last in the league in three-point shooting (32.1%), and in a game against UNICS, it couldn’t help but have an impact. UNICS bigmen cemented the paint (6 blocks), while the Kazan team sharpshooters shot better (8 of 21 versus 6 of 21). Those extra 6 points became decisive
Fact
Loko center Maurice Ndour played in the VTB United League for the first time against UNICS, where he was recognized the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2018/2019 season. The Senegalese center scored 6 points and 2 rebounds in 17 minutes.
The game could have been the first in UNICS when Nenad Dimitrijevic would have finished the game with 0 assists. Yet in the final minute of the game, Dimitrijevic made his first and only assist.
In Akoon-Purcell absence, Jalen Barford took the offensive leadership and had his best scoring game in the United League. The last time Barford made more than 30 points was back in Astana. The 33 points is a repeat of the American’s guard career-high, set in Vanoli.
Loko again made a major comeback against UNICS. However, 22-point comeback led to a win in December’s game
Leaders
UNICS: Nenad Dimitrijevic (23), Marcos Knight (15 + 4 steals), Louis Labeyrie (12 + 8 rebounds), Jalen Reynolds (10 + 7 rebounds), Ismael Bako (7 + 6 rebounds + 4 blocked shots).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Jalen Barford (33), Okaro White (11 + 5 rebounds), Vladislav Emchenko (4 + 8 rebounds).
What’s next
UNICS: March 5 on the road against CSKA.
Lokomotiv Kuban: March 5 on the road versus Enisey.
