Avtodor Russia defeated Kalev Estonia at home, 112-109 (31-32, 25-28, 20-21, 36-28).
Top Scorers
Avtodor: Nikita Mikhailovsky (22 + 3 stl), Artem Zabelin (19 + 8 reb), Trae Golden (16 + 7 ast), Anton Kvikovskikh (14), Boris Savovic (13), David Kravish (7 + 13 reb)
Kalev: Chavaughn Lewis (24), Arnett Moultrie (24 + 9 reb), Kristjan Kitsing (18), Reggie Lynch (15 + 5 reb)
Story
In a game with huge playoff complications, Avtodor and Kalev combined for a season-high 221 points, while the Russians squeezed past the Estonians for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Nikita Mikhailovsky and Artem Zabelin, Avtodor’s two Russian All-Stars, combined for 41 points, but Anton Kvitkovskikh was the hero in the 4th quarter, scoring Saratov’s first nine points to knot the score at 85-85. The 18-year-old forward finished with 14, smashing his previous best of six.
Молодой форвард @AvtodorSaratov начал 4-ю четверть против @BC_Kalev с 9 очков подряд ♨️
Young Avtodor’s forward Anton Kvitkovskikh scored 9 straight PTS in 4th Q vs Kalev ♨️ pic.twitter.com/sehGkJvX9F
— VTB United League (@VTBUL) February 14, 2019
Avtodor built on the momentum, never trailing again. Plenty of players contributed down the stretch for Saratov, which built a seven-point lead, 110-103, with less than a minute to play.
But Kalev wasn’t done. Kristjan Kitsing was fouled on a 3-pointer and converted the free throw to pull the visitors within a single possession, 110-107.
After Tre’ McLean missed a jumper at the other end, Kitsing had a wide-open look from beyond the arc to tie the game, but his shot was off and Avtodor was able to close out the win at the free-throw line.
The victory moves Avtodor into a tie with Kalev for 8th place (7-10), but the Russians hold the tiebreaker thanks to a 2-0 sweep of the season series.
Stat
221 – Avtodor and Kalev were responsible for the previous highest-scoring game, combining for 215 points in Avtodor’s 113-102 win in Tallinn earlier this season. They surpassed that on Thursday, thanks to a 64-point 4th quarter.
Transition D
Легкие 2 очка в быстром отрыве для Энтони Айрлэнда? Янари Йоэсаар из @BC_Kalev говорит “нет”!
Anthony Ireland’s easy bucket in fast break? Nope, it’s the BLOCK by Janari Joesaar from Kalev! pic.twitter.com/3DgUO1ZLtn
— VTB United League (@VTBUL) February 14, 2019
Star
Nikita Mikhailovsky. After getting an All-Star invite this week, the forward showed why he was chosen. The Russian knocked down four of five from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 22 points.
Photos
