Thanks to 3-pointers from Kirill Temirov and Kassius Robertson, and a 2-pointer from Vince Hunter, Lokomotiv quickly took an 8:2 lead, but BETCITY PARMA equalised the score in 3 possessions, after which the lead changed several times. At one point, the Perm team accelerated – after long-range shots from Victor Sanders and Brendan Adams, the score became 21:16 in their favor. Lokomotiv responded from close range: Ilya Popov made a behind-the-back assist to Temirov, Vsevolod Ishchenko performed a dunk, Popov made put-back after a miss by Mike Moore. BETCITY PARMA scored two more times from the perimeter (they made 5 of 9 three-pointers in total during the 1st quarter), but Ishchenko from the free throw line and Jeremiah Martin at the buzzer brought the gap to one possession – 24:27.
Just two minutes into the 2nd quarter, Anton Yudin had to call a timeout. BETCITY PARMA had already scored 6 points, to which Loko responded with only 2. Still, our team’s next three attacks failed to produce any points, and after Alexander Shashkov scored a turnaround 5 meter buzzer at the end of the possession, the margin became double-digit, 26-37. Soon, Shashkov scored from beyond the arc, Moore missed, and Alexander Zakharov‘s layup sent Lokomotiv to a second timeout, 28:42.
A couple of minutes later it was “–20”, after a 3-pointer by Jaylen Adams. Since then, things started to improve a bit for Krasnodar’s offense: Anton Kvitkovskikh scored 2 points, Temirov converted 1 of his 2 free throw attempts, Miller made a 3-pointer, Temirov did the same – and now it was time for the home team to take a time-out, 39:52. A great chance to reducee the gap a bit further came in the final seconds of the first half: Hunter stole the ball from Terrell Carter, but after his layup, the ball bounced around the hoop and did not get in, 40:54 at the big break.
The home team scored the first points of the 2nd half, but then Loko shut down all access to their basket for several minutes, cutting the distance to “–10”: 46:56 after an iso by Martin. A long-range shot by Kvitkovskikh, two points by Ishchenko after a great spin, and the gap was no longer double-digit, 51:60. Perm allowed 2 consecutive turnovers, and after a dunk by Miller, it was “–5”: 55:60. Shashkov tried to revive BETCITY PARMA with his shots, but Martin was great in these minutes – two successful isolations in a row made it 60:64. With Jaylen Adams‘ effort, the home team managed to make another run, but not big one – 62:68 by the 3rd intermission.
The start of the 4th quarter was marked by 3 consecutive blocks: two of them were performed by Perm players, giving them an 8-point lead by the 33rd minute. But then Popov scored from mid-range, and Kvitkovskikh from afar – 71:74, forcing the BETCITY PARMA coach to call a timeout.
To 2 Carter‘s free throws, Martin responded with a fine drive, that’s how with 5 minutes remaining, the game entered clutch mode: the teams completely blocked each other’s field goal opportunities – nothing but free throws were scores foursome time. Carter committed two offensive fouls, and after his 2nd one, the gap was reduced to one point, 76:77.
Then, Carter scored 2 free throws, Martin responded with an isolation play. Jaylen Adams also scored an iso – Martin did the same. Brendan Adams received an offensive foul – it was his fifth, forcing the ejection. Martin ran to the hoop once again, but this time he didn’t score. Carter made it 80:83, and in a response attack, Temirov was fouled on at the very last moment of possession – and scored both free throws, “–1” once again.
One and a half minutes left to play. Martin is called for a foul before BETCITY PARMA puts the ball in play, Jaylen Adams converts the free throw, then two more, which the Perm point guard earned after retaining possession. Lokomotiv rushes to score, but allows a turnover, Jaylen Adams hits two more free throws, making it 82:88 in favor of the home team.
Martin misses from afar, Kvitkovskikh is fouled while fighting for a rebound, then scores 1 of 2 free throws. BETCITY PARMA calls a timeout, and as the game resumes, Hunter steals the ball, which helps Martin make it 85:88, with 26 seconds left.
Yevgeny Pashutin calls another timeout – and this time, Perm manages to overcome our pressure, which essentially determines the outcome of the game: there were more timeouts, free throws, and video reviews, but no real chances to equalise the score.
Lokomotiv Kuban will play their next game on Wednesday, December 17, in St. Petersburg against Zenit, with whom they now share the 3rd-4th positions.
We believe in the team! Go, Loko!