«Lokomotiv-Kuban» Krasnodar, Russia vs. «Tsmoki-Minsk» Minsk, Belarus

Russian Lokomotiv-Kuban won at home, 89-74, over Belorussia’s Tsmoki-Minsk in the third week of the regular season. Despite their visitor’s best efforts, the team from Krasnodar maintained its early advantage and closed out the win.

The Story
Lokomotiv-Kuban lost two straight to open the season, clearly not part of the ambitious club’s plans. In this game, Lokomotiv-Kuban had only one task – to win. They proved they would make good on that challenge from the very first quarter. Belorussia’s champion worked hard, but that was nowhere near adequate tonight: Pashutin’s men unleashed an impressive three-point display and clamped down defensively on the opposite end of the court. James Baron, particularly, stood out in the beginning, scoring 12 points, including 3 three-pointers.
In the second quarter everything slowed down. Lokomotiv-Kuban kept control up until the very end of the frame, when Aliaksandr Kudrautsau and Jajuan Smith led their team on a brief run, giving the visitors a foothold leading into halftime.

The Conclusion
After halftime, Lokomotiv-Kuban began brightly, but with the end of the third quarter approaching, Krasnodar’s relentless visitors closed the gap once again. The game’s outcome hinged on play in the fourth quarter. By the middle of the final period, the Basket Hall grew quiet in nervous anticipation. The Belorussians cut the deficit to 5 points, doing their best to complicate matters further. Lokomotiv, however, slammed the door shut at precisely that moment, proving their quality and experience. Pashutin brought back his starting five following a timeout, and the tireless Calathes and confident Jasaitis imposed their will on the opponent, pulling out a 15-5 run. Lokomotiv finally has their first win of the season in the VTB United League.

The Hero
Simas Jasaitis. The veteran Lithuanian’s calm and rational play had a decisive role in the closing quarter. Several made shots and two offensive rebounds during the game’s most critical stretch imparted confidence to his teammates. Simas came within one rebound of a double-double (20 points and 9 boards).

Stat of the Game
80 – the combined field-goal percentage (excluding three-pointers) for Lokomotiv-Kuban internationals Simas Jasaitis and Mantas Kalnietis. The Lithuanians’ deadly shooting proved essential during the fourth quarter.

Top Performers
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Nick Calathes – 22 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists.
Tsmoki-Minsk: Aliaksandr Kudrautsau – 20 points, 4 assists.