Zenit lose at home to Pari NN
Zenit were defeated by Pari Nizhny Novgorod 89:99 in the 20th round of the VTB United League regular season. You can read more about today’s game in our match report.
Zenit’s starting five for today’s game was as follows: Andre Roberson, Trent Frazier, Andrey Martiuk, Georgy Zhbanov, and Levi Randolph. Compared to the previous game, Zhbanov and Karasev returned to the roster.
The game began at a brisk pace. In the opening minute, the teams traded two-point field goals: Roberson scored on a drive for the hosts, while Platonov answered for the visitors. By the middle of the quarter, Zenit had built a comfortable lead at 11:4. However, from that moment on, the Blue-White-Sky Blues suffered a breakdown. The St. Petersburg side repeatedly failed to convert their chances, while Pari NN consistently knocked down shots from long range. A 13:0 run by the visitors turned the tide of the game. Zenit did not score a single field goal for the remainder of the quarter, with only Samanic converting from the free-throw line. By the end of the opening ten minutes, the guests were ahead 13:18.
The next stretch opened with a layup by Frazier, but Pari Nizhny Novgorod continued to push forward, and three-pointers from Washington and Baburin gave the visitors a double-digit lead. After that, the game settled into a stop-and-go rhythm. Zenit adjusted their offense at one point and managed to slightly cut the deficit thanks to productive play from Roberson, Frazier, and Karasev. The Volga side responded with a run of their own, virtually neutralizing all of the hosts’ efforts. In this tug-of-war mode, the teams went into halftime, but Pari NN’s double-digit advantage remained intact — 34:45.
After returning from the locker room, Zenit tried various defensive approaches in an effort to reduce the gap on the scoreboard. However, despite all their attempts, the St. Petersburg team could not get closer than six points. While Randolph, Luka, Emchenko, and Zhbanov looked for the keys to a long-awaited comeback, successfully shooting from beyond the arc, Pari NN were driven forward by the Washington–Lukic duo, who combined for 48 points today. Unfortunately, Zenit were unable to turn the game around. The final score was 89:99.
Zenit’s top scorers today were Levi Randolph (18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Andrey Martiuk (12 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals), and Vladislav Emchenko (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals).
On Sunday, January 18, Zenit will play away against Lokomotiv Kuban from Krasnodar. The match will take place at the Basket-Hall arena, with tip-off scheduled for 15:30 St. Petersburg time.
