VTB United League. Play-Offs. Quarterfinals. Game 3.
Avtodor Saratov vs. UNICS Kazan - 79-88 (19-20, 17-34, 24-21, 19-13).
Avtodor: Mikhailovskii (26+8 assists+6 rebounds+7 fouls drawn), Petenev (13+6 rebounds+3 assists), Minchenko (13+7 rebouns+8 fouls drawn), Karvanen (8+9 rebouns+2 assists), Pranauskis (5+5 rebounds+2 assists), Kvitkovskikh (5), Fedorov (3+3 rebounds+1 blocked shot), Reish (3), Pechkin (2+1 rebound), Ivanov (1+1 rebound).
UNICS: Hezonja (18+10 rebounds), Komolov (14+4 assists+3 rebounds), Mayo (13+3 rebounds), Spissu (12+4 assists+3 rebounds+2 steals), Klimenko (10+5 blocked shots+4 rebounds).

GAME PHOTOS



The team of Vladislav Konovalov managed to win two of four quarters against the top club and came back into the game reducing the gap from "-18" to "-3". Unfortunately, at the end of the game the luck was on the side of the reigning VTB United League & EuroCup runner-up and this season Euroleague participant that secured a 88-79 road win. The UNICS snipers brought this win because of their impeccable accuracy from the perimeter – 15 of 34 three-pointers. Saratov cutted the difference due to their reliable actions under the boards (41 against 39 on rebounds in favor of the black-and-white), and also minimized the number of turnovers (11 against only 6 for the guests). However, 9 missed free throws cost our guys a victory (20/29).



All 10 of our basketball players who entered the court were noted in the protocol by points scored. The 21-year-old guard Nikita MIKHAILOVSKII became the top scorer in Avtodor recording 26 points (4/9 from behind the arc), 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Alexandr PETENEV and Evgeny MINCHENKO added 26 points and 13 rebounds in total. The Black-and-white managed to restrain the UNICS leader Mario HEZONJA who scored 18 points, but did it with an extremely low percentage of shots from the field – 29% (5/17).





Therefore, Avtodor was the last team to be eliminated in the first round of the VTB United League Play-offs and took the final 6th position in the team standings. The 2021-22 season will forever remain in the memory of the Saratov fans as one of the best in the modern history of our club! Thank you for the season, the Team!