Rochestie leads Nizhny to first-ever Euroleague road win

In a rare all-Russian showdown in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, Nizhny Novgorod broke its three-game losing streak by downing Unics Kazan 73-79 in Group A on Thursday. Nizhny improved to 2-3 and grabbed its first-ever road win in the Euroleague, while Unics dropped to 1-4. Taylor Rochestie paced the winners with 24 points. Art Parakhouski added 19 and 9 rebounds, while Tarence Kinsey and Trey Thomkins each scored 12 for Nizhny. Nikos Zisis led Unics with 15 points. Keith Langford added 13, Kostas Kaimakoglou had 12 while Petr Gubanov and Curtis Jerrells each got 10 for the hosts. Nizhny got off to a great start and a layup by Rochestie gave the guests a 4-12 lead. Langford and D'or Fischer brought Unics within 14-16, but a layup by Kinsey and a big triple by Rochestie gave Nizhny a 16-21 lead after 10 minutes. Thompkins gave Nizhny a double-digit lead, 16-27, but Zisis and Langford brought Unics within 34-39 at halftime. Nizhny led for the better part of the second half, but a three-point play by Jerrells put Unics ahead, 55-54, with eight minutes left. Rochestie led a 0-7 run and had 10 points in the final five minutes, including a three-pointer which sealed the outcome, 64-73, in the next-to-last minute.

First quarter: Rochestie shines, Nizhny leads

Rochestie got Nizhny going with a three-pointer and Semen Antonov also struck from beyond the arc for a 0-6 start. Unics was held scoreless for almost three minutes until Gubanov stepped up with a close basket. Langford took over with a driving basket, but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, a second-chance layup by Thompkins and stop-and-pop jumper by Kinsey boosted the guests' lead to 4-10. Rochestie scored in transition. Gubanov bettered him with a three-point play to keep Unics within 7-12. Kinsey sank free throws and so did Curtis Jerrells and Parakhouski to make it 9-16 score. Unics improved its defense late in the first quarter, as a close jumper by James White and a free throw by D'or Fischer made it a 4-point game. Fischer capped a 5-0 run with a mid-range jumper and soon added a layup, but Kinsey and a wild seven-meter bomb by Rochestie gave Nizhny a 16-21 margin after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Zisis, Gubanov keep Unics close

Rochestie kept pushing Nizhny with a layup. Unics improved its defense, however, forcing the guests to use longer possessions. Unics struggled to score for more than three minutes, however, missing 6 consecutive shots and committing 3 turnovers in six-plus minutes. Meanwhile, free throws by Parakhouski and a layup by Thompkins boosted Nizhny's lead to double digits, 16-27. Unics finally found a go-to guy in Zisis, who made free throws, struck from downtown and added an off-balance three-point play to bring the hosts back to life at 24-29. Nizhny called a much-needed timeout and Maksim Krivosheev stepped up with a jump hook, which Viktor Sanikidze matched with foul shots. Dmitry Khvostov downed a mid-range jumper and free throws by Antonov gave Nizhny plenty of fresh air at 26-35. Gubanov followed a triple with a layup, but Parakhouski kept Nizhny in control. A three-pointer by Langford brought Unics within 34-39 at halftime.

Third quarter: Thompkins keeps Nizhny ahead

Kinsey nailed a mid-range jumper right after the break but Langford did better with a bomb from downtown. Parakhouski scored around the basket, as Unics struggled to find open shots. Zisis banked in a running jumper, which Kinsey erased with a long two-pointer. Parakhouski took over with a wild alley-oop layup - and the free throw that came with it. Langford fired in a five-meter jumper and a layup by Jerrells brought Unics as close as 43-48. Thompkins hit a turnaround jumper that Kostas Kaimakoglou matched with a reverse layup. Thompkins insisted with a big basket in the paint for a 45-52 Nizhny edge. Jerrells banked in a three-pointer that beat the shot clock, but a dunk by the ever-present Thompkins restored a 48-54 Nizhny margin at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth quarter: Rochestie seals it!

Kaimakoglou took over with another reverse layup early in the quarter and a mid-range jumper by Zizis made it a 2-point game. Jerrells provided a highlight with a wild three-point play that put Unics back ahead, 55-54. Thompkins dunked after a timeout and a three-pointer by Evgeny Baburin gave Nizhny a 55-59 advantage. Rochestie hit free throws to cap a 0-7 Nizhny run, before Fischer kept Unics within 4. Parakhouski nailed a mid-range jumper, which Fischer matched with a basket inside. Rochestie struck from way downtown and a layup by Parakhouski broke the game open at 59-68 with over three minutes left. Kaimakoglou buried a three-pointer and soon added a tip-in to bring Unics within 64-68. Rochestie nailed a jumper and soon added another wild triple to seal the outcome, 64-73. Unics kept trying, but Nizhny was well on its way to a well-deserved road win.