By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Thanks to Anthony Randolph’s amazing performance in overtime, Lokomotiv Kuban beat Barcelona on the road (80-92) and tied the series (2-2), with Game 5 taking place on Tuesday (26/4) to determine which team will qualify to the Final 4.
Although Juan Carlos Navarro hit a big two-pointer and led the game into overtime (76-76), the Russians dominated their opponents in the remaining five minutes (16-4) and stayed alive in the battle of qualification to to the Final-4.
For the winners, Randolph had 28 points and seven rebounds, as Victor Claver made an impressive double-double (17 points, 10 boards) and three more players scored in double figures. On the other hand, Navarro had 19 points for the losing squad, with Ante Tomic adding 18 and six rebounds.
Lokomotiv Kuban made a better start to the game (12-18), however Barcelona responded and was down by just two points at the end of the first quarter (19-21), thanks to a 9-3 run.
Later, the visitors retained their lead (25-28, 27-32), but the hosts went on a 8-3 run to tie the game (35-35). The Russians, though, ended the first half in front by five points (35-40).
In the second half, Lokomotiv Kuban extended its lead to seven points (42-49), but the Spaniards came back and closed the third quarter with a three-point advantage (54-51), behind a 12-2 run of their own.
In the fourth quarter, the situation remained the same, with consecutive lead changes taking place (60-56, 60-65, 65-67, 65-71). Barcelona cut the deficit to just one point (72-73), with 14.5 seconds to go, and Navarro hit a big two-pointer to lead the game to overtime (76-76), as Delaney missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
In overtime, Randolph took over. The American forward simply exploded and scored consecutive points to help his team outscore their opponents 16-4. Consequently, the Russians secured their victory (80-92), tied the series (2-2) and regained the home-court advantage, with Game 5 taking place in Krasnodar on Tuesday (26/4).