By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nizhny Novgorod put up a big fight against the heavily favored CSKA Moscow and succeeded in making an upset with a 76-72 home win, tying the best-of-three series in the VTB League playoffs.
Anton Astapkovich scored 19 points for the winning side including seven straight points to hand his team a 74-72 lead which pushed them over the hump.
Kasey Shepherd helped him with 13 points. For CSKA, Ivan Ukhov scored 12 and Will Clyburn 11 points.
Meanwhile, Zenit Saint Petersburg and Lokomotiv Kuban swept their opponents with 2-0 and advanced to the semifinals.
Zenit was rather convincing with a 98-62 win over PARMA Perm as Alex Poythress scored 16 and Austin Hollins 13 points. Andrey Zubkov and Will Thomas added 12 each while Kevin Pangos logged 11 points and 13 assists.
Lokomotiv ended the season for Khimki which had it particularly tough throughout the 2020-21 campaign in both VTB and EuroLeague fronts. The guests won GAme 2 with 92-85 on the scoreboard.
Nigel Williams-Goss banked in 30 and Kevin Hervey 28 points for the victors while, for Khimki, Alexey Shved scored 16 despite going 0-8 from the three-point territory – something Khimki desperately needed this game.