Nizhny Novgorod makes history in dominating Anadolu Efes

Nizhny Novgorod dominated Anadolu Efes Istanbul from start to finish for a historic 109-90 victory on Friday. Art Parakhouski had a career night with 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting, Taylor Rochestie set a Top 16 record with 15 assists and Trey Thompkins added a double double as the hosts improved to 2-2 in Group F, while dropping Efes to the same record. Rochestie recorded 11 points and 3 assists in 25-10 Nizhny start and the hosts never looked back. They racked up 65 first-half points, which were the second-most ever in a Euroleague game since the turn of the century. Thompkins had the honor of taking Nizhny over the 100-point mark midway through the fourth quarter. Parakhouski added 6 rebounds and 3 blocks to his outstanding effort. Thompkins finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Rochestie scored 19 and only committed 1 turnover. Tarence Kinsey added 16 points, Dimitriy Khvostov scored 12 and Semen Antonov 10 for the winners. Milko Bjelica was 3 for 3 from downtown for 15 points to lead Efes, while Nenad Krstic and Stephane Lasme netted 13 apiece and Thomas Heurtel dished 8 assists in defeat.

First quarter: Rochestie takes charge as hosts establish double-digit cushion

Antonov scored on the game’s first possession and left open, Dario Saric got the visitors on the scoreboard with a three-pointer. Rochestie ran the pick-and-roll to perfection with Parakhouski, who finished with ease, Rochestie then found Antonov to make it 9-3. Krstic scored inside and Matt Janning buried a three to bring Efes within 3, but Parakhouski turned a missed layup into a three-point play to keep Nizhny in control. A Rochestie jumper and then free throws gave the hosts their first double-digit lead. Krstic’s hook shot made it 18-10 midway through the quarter. Rochestie buried a three and after the TV timeout attacked the basket for a layup, which gave him 11 points – more than the entire Efes team to that point. Maksim Krivosheev made it 25-10 before Krstic scored inside again. Cedi Osman’s fast-break layup and foul drew Efes within 26-16. Bjelica added a basket on the offensive glass. Khvostov answered with a mid-range jumper, but Osman buried a three. Kinsey’s jumper on the buzzer ended the quarter at 31-21.

Second quarter: Efes has no answer for Parakhouski, Kinsey

Lasme soared for a layup for Efes. Parakhouski muscled his way to a bucket for the hosts. Rochestie added free throws, but Furkan Korkmaz hit a three. Kinset twice ran the pick-and-roll with Parakhouski, which resulted in a two-handed slam and a short jumper. In between, Bjelica connected from downtown for Efes. Antonov buried a three to make it 42-29. Krstic remained a force for Efes with 2 more free throws. Kinsey converted a three-point play and then stripped Thomas Heurtel to trigger a fast break that Parakhouski finished. The center added 2 free throws on the next possession for an 18-point lead. Bjelica canned a second triple to make it 49-34 midway through the quarter. Rochestie hooked up with the unstoppable Parakhouski for another bucket and Levan Patsatsia finished a fast break for a 19-point advantage. Saric scored 2 at the line, but the difference was soon in the 20s after a Rochestie layup and Parakhouski free throws. Thompkins free throws made it 59-36. Dontaye Draper tried to revive the visitors with 4 straight points. Kinsey stayed hot with a mid-range jumper. Stratos Perperoglou countered with a spin move, but seconds later Kinsey scored again. Draper closed the difference to 65-47 with a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the half.

Third quarter: Unstoppable Nizhny pushes difference to 25

Efes looked to set a different tone for the second half as Lasme started things with a monster slam. Antonov sank a jumper and Parakhouski continued his dominance with a blocked shot at one end and a layup at the other. Thompkins bettered Lasme’s jumper with a three-pointer and then added a put-back. Rochestie’s floater made it 76-51. Heurtel found Bjelica for a slam and the two soon hooked up again when Bjelica netted his third three. Khvostov sandwiched a pair of threes around Heurtel’s long jumper. Rochestie found Parakhouski for a slam. Korkmaz drew a foul shooting a 3 and made the resulting 3 free throws. Thompkins stayed with his own miss and scored to become the sixth Nizhny player in double figures in points. Perperoglou nailed a three to bring Efes within 86-68. Thompkins and Saric traded jumpers to make it 88-71.

Fourth quarter: Rochestie adds assists record as hosts finish strong

Korkmaz added 2 more from the line. Thompkins and Khvostov kept the Nizhny offense rolling. Kinsey’s pull-up jumper made it 94-73. Perperoglou and Thompkins traded jumpers. Bjelica sank a shot over Thompkins. Rochestie came back in and hit a floater. He then tied the Top 16 record for assists on a Thompkins three. Krstic split free throws and then Rochestie set the Top 16 record by dishing another assist to Parakhouski. Krstic dunked. The hosts remained aggressive with Kinsey soaring to grab his own miss and scoring to make it 107-82. Heurtel found Lasme for an alley-oop layup. Heurtel then scored 4 quick points in a late 0-8 Efes run. Parakhouski scored the final basket as Nizhny wrapped up a historic victory.