Khimki coughs up 24-point lead, but edges Zenit in series opener

Khimki Moscow Region recorded an 84-86 victory over Zenit St. Petersburg in the opening leg of their two-game total-points Eurocup Eighthfinals series on Tuesday, but the visitors will be left to lament the huge margin they led slip away. Khimki led 34-53 at halftime and by 21 early in the second half before Zenit took charge and came all the way back. The hosts scored 32 third-quarter points – just 2 fewer than their entire first-half output – and held Khimki to 10 in the fourth. Dmitry Kulagin’s fourth three-pointer gave Zenit its first lead since the opening minute at 82-81, but Khimki managed to tie it and win the game on a James Augustine layup. Zenit will need to win by 3 next week in the second leg to reach the quarterfinals, while Khimki would advance even if it lost by 1. Tyrese Rice scored 22 points and dished 6 assists for Khimki, while Petteri Koponen tallied 11 points and 7 assists, Ruslan Pateev also scored 11, Sergey Monia totaled 10 points, 5 assists and 4 blocks and Augustine finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Kulagin shot 4 of 6 from downtown en route to 16 points and 5 assists, while Artem Vikhrov also scored 16 and Kyle Landry posted 16 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts. Walter Hodge added 11 points and 9 assists and Cameron Jones scored 10 in defeat.

Zenit got the start it wanted with a three-pointer from Kulagin, but Khimki took charge after that. Koponen responded with a three and a jumper. Monia and Pateev each scored twice to wrap up a 0-13 Khimki response to give the visitors a double-digit advantage. Vikhrov split free throws to end Zenit’s drought, but Rice nailed a triple to make it 4-16 midway through the first quarter. Vikhrov sank a triple and Landry and Jones helped the hosts draw within 6 before Khimki settled for an 18-26 lead after 10 minutes. Augustine restored a double-digit lead for the visitors early in the second quarter and a Marko Popovic three made it a 14-point game. A pair of baskets by Vikhrov brought Zenit within 23-33, but Rice scored 5 in a 0-11 run in which Hodge and the Zenit benchwere both assessed technical fouls. Andrei Desyatnikov free throws did little to ignite the hosts. Monia’s steal led to Egor Vyaltsev’s slam and a 25-49 Khimki advantage. A Vikhrov jumper and Kulagin three closed the gap to 34-53 at the break.

Landry closed the gap to 17, but Vyaltsev and Monia’s threes kept Khimki comfortably ahead. An Evgeny Valiev layup made it 46-63 midway through the third quarter. A Vikhrov three and Dejan Borovnjak helped Zenit close the gap. Hodge’s steal and layup and a Landry triple got Zenit within 58-67. Paul Davis’s three-point play revived Khimki and a Rice layup boosted the difference back to 13. Landry netted 2 free throws to bring Zenit to 66-76 through three quarters. The hosts came alive early in the fourth as Jones, Kulagin and Vikhrov highlighted a 9-0 run. After Augustine split free throws, Landry tied the game at 79-79. A Kulagin three-pointer – his fourth of the game – gave Zenit its first lead since the opening minute, 82-81. Pateev tied it from the line, but Jones put the hosts back ahead. Rice tied it at 84-84 with a minute to go and after Landry missed a three, Augustine put Khimki in front for good as the visitors held on for a narrow victory.