By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Will Thomas scored 19 on near-perfect (6/6 2-pointers, 1/2 triples) shooting, while dropping four crucial points in the last minutes to lead Zenit St. Petersburg to a 72 – 66 win over Baskonia at home for Round 19 of the EuroLeague regular season.
Baskonia was up 65 – 63 with two minutes remaining thanks to Tornike Shengelia but didn’t make another basket in the remainder of the match. Thomas tied the game and then Mateusz Ponitka and Tim Abromaitis put Zenit ahead 69 – 63. Pierria Henry made 1/2 free throws for the 69 – 66 with 22 seconds remaining but in the next offense of Baskonia, Thomas stole the ball and drew the foul that allowed him to seal the victory with a pair from the line.
“Getting defensive stops and rebounding the ball were the keys. We had a few steals and were able to score some free throws down the end to help us seal the win. We have been working hard all season. We are working to be competitive in the EuroLeague and now it is starting to show,” Thomas said.
While the Gustavo Ayon-less Zenit improved to 6-13 with this win, Baskonia dropped to 7 – 12. Nik Stauskas (15 points), Shengelia (13 points, six rebounds, six assists) and Henry (13 points) scored in double figures for the losing squad.
Zenit was efficient enough close to the basket (24/31 2-pointers) to make up for poor 3-point percentages (3/17). Baskonia didn’t produce enough, finishing the match with 19 turnovers while making just 13 assists.
Building a streak
Zenit coach Joan Plaza saw his players beating Khimki Moscow on the road and now getting a second consecutive win for the first time this season. “It is good to win finally at home because the last victory was not in this building,” Plaza said. “It will be great if we can carry on this way in the second half of the regular season. The team is working well and basically, my players, more than I, deserved this kind of win.”