By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Brad Wanamaker being impressive in the fourth quarter, Brose Baskets beat Khimki 84-79 and retained its chances to qualify to the playoffs, whereas the situation is now difficult for the Russians.
For the winners, Wanamaker had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists, with Nikos Zisis adding 16 points and eight assists. On the other hand, Alexey Shved and Zoran Dragic scored 14 points each for the losing squad, as Tyrese Rice had nine points and 11 assists.
Although the match was close in the beginning (11-11), Khimki went on a 6-0 run and took a six-point lead (11-17). However, Brose Baskets responded and was down by one, at the end of the first quarter (16-17).
Later, things didn’t change much, as no team could take a significant advantage (26-26, 34-35), with the first half ending in a draw (40-40).
In the second half, the Russians immediately went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead (40-48), however the Germans responded and managed to tie the game, with 100 seconds to go in the third quarter (56-56). Khimki, though, closed the quarter in an 8-0 run and was in front by eight, after 30 minutes in the game (56-64).
In the fourth quarter, Brose Baskets immediately cut the deficit to just one (63-64), but the visitors extended it again to eight (63-71). Since then, though, Wanamaker took over. Scoring consecutive points, the American guard led his team to a 21-8 run and, consequently, the German squad earned a crucial home win (84-79), as the Russians were unable to make a come-back.