In Game 2 of the best-of-five series, both teams had some losses. Trevor Lacey didn’t come to the Moscow Region from Krasnodar. Markovic and Robinson didn’t play for Khimki. From the very beginning of the game, it was clear that Lokomotiv Kuban learnt from the previous game: the hosts moved the ball on the three-shot line but attempted distant shots unsuccessfully. Loko cut to the paint, tried to find fouls and too the lead by the mid of the quarter.
Moreover, in the first period, we saw comeback of Dima Kulagin. He was blocked by Khimki in simple cuts but shot well from distance: two shots over Jenkins and three shots over Honeycutt. Elegar’s dunk set the final score of the quarter – 23:15 in favor of Loko.
After 2.5 minutes of the second period, only Khimki managed to score and only two points. But they needed only 1 minute more to take the lead. Loko failed to score a point by that moment. However, Ilnitsky managed to return Loko’s advantage, shooting three from a corner. Kulagin got 6 points in the quarter and let Lokomotiv won the first half of the game – 39:34.
At the start of the third period, Khvostov and Maciulis got 5 points and Loko’s advantage became double-digit. However, soon Khimki reduced the gap to 1 point, didn’t make a foul and shot 11 points while Loko shot none. Khimki shot several points from a corner and took a 6-point lead. But two threes in a row by Babb tied the score in the third quarter – 55:55.
Shved got 4 points from the free throw line in the first minute of the fourth period. Kulagin reduced the gap, getting the 15th point in the game from the line. Kulagin also got first field points in the quarter for Loko. Honeycutt’s and-one and Shved’s free throws let Khimki took the lead. 36 seconds before the end of the game, Babb shot three but Loko lost rebound and was defeated by Khimki – 72:77.
The most valuable player of Krasnodar was guard Dmitry Kulagin who got 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 13 PIR.
Loko will play against Khimki Game 3 of Play-Off on the road on May 28th.
