Khimki defeated Zenit on the road in Game 5 of the playoff semifinals, 90-84.
Khimki erased a 2-0 series deficit and booked a spot in the VTB United League finals with a 90-84 victory in St. Petersburg.
Playing in front of a packed Yubileyniy arena, Zenit and Khimki were gunning for a shot at reigning champs CSKA, not to mention an automatic berth in the 2017-18 EuroLeague.
In the end, Khimki needed another inspired performance from star Alexey Shved and some clutch bench production in the 4th quarter to overcome Zenit.
Backup forward Stanislav Ilnitsky, who barely played in Games 1 and 2, saved his best for last, scoring six points in the final period, including a big 3-pointer that pushed Khimki’s lead to four with under seven minutes to go.
Trailing by six at the midway point of the 4th, Zenit put together a 7-1 run to knot the score at 73-73.
Shved, who finished with a game-high 28 points, answered with a lay-up and 3-pointer. The home team didn’t back down as Kyle Landry and Ryan Toolson matching the high-flying Russian point for point.
With under a minute remaining, Sergey Karasev had a chance to give Zenit the lead, but his 3-pointer was off the mark. On the following Zenit possession, trailing by two, Karasev committed a turnover and E.J. Rowland responded with a dunk to make it a four-point game.
After yet another Zenit turnover, Hummel made it a six-point game with under 30 seconds left on the clock. Toolson and Stefan Markovic gave Zenit a lifeline, scoring three points on two quick possessions, but Shved drew a foul on the following in-bounds play and converted both free throws, 88-84, with seven seconds to go.
That clinched victory for Khimki as Markovic’s desperation 3-pointer was off the mark and E.J. Rowland corralled the rebound.
For the second year in a row, Zenit comes within a whisker of reaching the finals. Khimki, meanwhile, moves on to face archrival CSKA for a shot at the title.
E.J. Rowland scored 19 points, Sergey Karasev – 14 oints and 5 assists), Janis Timma – 13 points and 7 rebounds.
