Zenit defeated PARMA at home – 77:66 (23:17, 21:10, 20:20, 13:19).
Game progress
The guests took the control of the game at the start, but Zenit quickly get the initiative. Juwan Morgan started the hosts run with 2 three-pointers and Josh Carlton solidified Zenit lea – 23:17.
Zenit made their next run midway through the second quarter. Morgan became one of main creators again. The St. Petersburg team lead was already 17 points – 44:27.
Key moment
At the start of the third quarter, the hosts lead increased to 21 points – 48:27. The guests managed to equalise the game, but not more than that. The Perm team has never managed to make a comeback. At the end of the game, the guests were able to get closet, but there was no real intrigue.
X-factor
In their first game for Zenit, both newcomers performed well. Morgan and Carlson were the best scoring players for the St. Petersburg team (14 and 12 points respectively).
Fact
Zenit finished the regular season at 2nd place. In the first round of the Playoffs the St. Petersburg team will meet the winner of Uralmash vs Samara play-in game.
PARMA will play against Lokomotiv Kuban in the Quarterfinals.
This was Vince Hunter 100th game in the VTB United League. He played 17 games for Avtodor (2016-17), 47 games for UNICS (2022-23), and this past game was his 36th for Zenit.
B.J. Johnson scored 667 points this season and became the second best scorer in the League. He is 3 points ahead of Nenad Dimitrijevic.
Leaders
Zenit: Juwan Morgan (14 + 8 rebounds), Josh Carlton (12 + 5 rebounds), Vince Hunter (10 + 6 rebounds), Thomas Heurtel (7 + 12 assists).
PARMA: B.J. Johnson (22 + 6 rebounds), C.J. Bryce (16), Richard Solomon (5 + 11 rebounds).
What’s next
Zenit (26-10): April 22 at home against the winner of the Uralmash vs. Samara game
PARMA (20-16): April 23 on the road versus Lokomotiv Kuban.
