VTB League: Khimki drops BC Donetsk

BC Khimki Moscow Region moved into a tie for second place with Krasnye Krylia, both with 9-3 records, in the VTB League Group A with a solid road win over BC Donetsk on Monday, 84:66. The visitors used a 6:23 run in the second quarter to put the hosts on the ropes early and held on for an 18-point victory.

Donetsk got up 9:3 early, only to have Khimki counter on the strength of Paul Davis’ six points, four rebounds and a steal coming in off the bench. Davis ended the first half with 16 points and nine rebounds to help Khimki to a 24:38 advantage at the intermission.

Donetsk scored 1:20 into the second quarter to make it 18:15 and with just under a minute to play in the half D’or Fischer picked up their last points in the half bringing the score to 24:38, equating to a 6:23 run.

In the third quarter the hosts took over and pulled even with Khimki at 49, only to have the visitors end the quarter with a 2:12 run to extend the lead back to 51:61.

Khimki kept the pressure on in the final 10 to run their margin up to 18-points and pick up their ninth win on the season.

The loss dropped Donetsk to 4-8 and seventh in Group A. Davis was game-high for Khimki with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Zoran Planinic added 9 points and 9 assists. Sergey Monya added 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Darius Songaila had 18 points and 7 rebounds for Donetsk. Ramel Curry added 16 points and 5 assists, Vojdan Stojonevski contributed 13 points.

Leading the way in Group A is Spartak at 9-2.

Group B is lead by CSKA Moscow with an 11-1 record, followed by Zalgiris Kaunas at 10-1. The two clubs face off on Feb. 2nd. in Moscow.